Oh how I miss the temporary location of the Hamilton Farmers market and the original market from a couple years back! At first I thought that I was being overly critical of the “New” market, but I’ve now gone 3 times since it was reopened and my thoughts are pretty much the same. Funny enough, the people who were with me as well as a couple of the vendors we spoke with, feel the same way.
After over a year or so of renovations and much hype during that time (a lot of money was spent as well I must add), I walked though the new glass doors leading into the market from Jackson Square with much excitement. But wait! The main (top) floor is exactly as it was before, except some vendors were moved around a bit. We then decided to head downstairs to the main market area, when we noticed that the escalators were gone and now replaced by stairs. Stairs that seem to take up a lot of room from what was a wonderful way to descend into the hub of shopping.
At the top of the stairs is the only thing that really stands out from the work they’ve done… a wonderful crafted Birks clock (see notes below). For people needing wheelchair access there’s also a new elevator to the left side of the stairs and the original ramp on the right side is still there. Again, the very same as it used to be in the past.
As you make your way around the ground floor you can’t help but feel boxed in. The previous layout didn’t have this sort of boxed-in stalls which now crowd the landscape. There used to be such an open feel to this area before, a feel that worked to the benefit of both vendors and shoppers. You could easily glance over and see what other offerings the stalls across the floor had to offer. This is no longer the case. additionally, the aisle now seems more crowded and with less room to move around freely. The funny thing is that I don’t believe the width of the aisles got any smaller, but the layout itself contributes to the overall crowded feel.
Gone from the market is the natural vibe it once had… the chatter between vendor and shopper, the sort of melting pot ambiance generated from the many cultures that were represented in the past and the overall inviting feel one would get while browsing the many food stalls. Even the temporary location had all of this! In previous years you could stand at the top of the ramp and look down and across the floor and see this wonderful buzz of activity, now you’ve got to settle for limited views and that boxed-in feel I mentioned earlier.
Yes, the clock really stands out, the idea of a food court is creative and the natural light which filters in from the use of ground to ceiling glass windows overlooking the street are all appreciated, but we left asking “what did they really do after being closed for so long, doing renovations?”
Interesting Facts About the Historic Birks Clock
- Also known as “Clock of the Charging Horsemen”
- Commissioned by Birks Jewelers for the corner of their building at King and James; designed by Kruger Gray, who also created the designs for the Canadian penny and nickel
- The clock measures over 17’ in height, weighs over a ton and is made of bronze cladding
- The clock features a round Norman tower, and four jousting knights at the base modeled after a clock at Wells Cathedral in England
- The knights joust 2 times at the quarter hours; 4 times at the half hour; 6 times at the ¾ hour and 8 times at the hour – the same as they did in 1930
- For its restoration in the newly renovated Farmers’ Market, the clock was taken completely apart – over 1,000 pieces – and each piece was treated and most painted before reassembly
- The new mechanism includes a sound system that is capable of playing numerous programmable tunes:
The ¼ hour chimes are based on the Winchester tune.
9 a.m.: ‘Oranges and Lemons’;
Noon: ‘Cockles and Mussels’
3 p.m.: ‘Polly Put the Kettle On’
Hamilton Farmers Market
Location: 35 York Boulevard,
Hamilton, Ontario
Phone: 905-546-2096
Fax: 905-546-2829
Hours of Operation
Tuesday: 7 am – 6 pm
Thursday: 7 am – 6 pm
Friday: 8 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 6 am – 6 pm
The Market is closed on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Sundays and
all statutory holidays.
