CultureLocalNewsRoman Road Market

The hustle and bustle of Roman Road Market [photoessay]

This series of black and white photographers taken on a cold but sunny winter’s day by local resident Tabitha Stapely celebrates the diversity of Roman Road Market in Bow, East London.

Multiculturalism has always been a defining characteristic of the East End and Bow’s Roman Road offers a something for everyone. Visitors come here to buy anything from fresh meat and dairy from the butcher’s stall; pipping hot spinach and cheese filled gozlem from the turkish street food stall; discount designer homeware (there’s a good line in end-of-line ranges from Made.com); fabrics galore, and bargain fashion and jewellery.

Roman Road Market stall selling jewellery with Asian and Black Afro-Caribbean women shoppers
Women shopping at a jewellery stall on Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market stall selling farm fresh meat and dairy produce with elderly white british man wearing flat cap and pushing shopping cart and elderly woman wearing a hat and putting money in purse
An elderly couple buying fresh meat from the butcher’s stall on Roman Road Market.© Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market female black Afro-Caribbean woman trader selling women's underwear
Woman selling women’s underwear on Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market street food stall selling Turkish gozlem
Women selling goslem filled with spinach, meat and potatoes at Turkish hot food stall on Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market stall selling rugs and homeware with Asian woman shoppers
Young couple looking at rug at Lofty’s homeware stall on Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market stall selling shoes and boots with white eastern european woman pushing pram with her children
A woman and her children looking at boots on the shoe stall at Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market view of clothes rails
Rails and rails of discount French Connection and Warehouse women’s fashion on Roman Road Market. © Tabitha Stapely
Roman Road Market doorway into Hannan the hairdresser
Looking through a doorway into Hannan barbers on Roman Road Market © Tabitha Stapely

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Tabitha Stapely

Tabitha Stapely is the founder of Social Streets C.I.C, a not-for-profit media company using journalism to strengthen communities, particularly those in disadvantaged or neglected areas. Prior, Stapely was a writer and editor for national titles including The Telegraph Saturday Magazine, Elle and Red magazines.

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