Monday 1 August 2011

Secondhand Record Shops #12: Newton Abbot.


Newton Abbot is a small market town in Devon. The town doesn't have a lot going for it, there is no historical Newton Abbot, no pleasant walks just a smattering of catalogue clothes shops, charity shops and boozers. Even the train station is a mile or so out of the town centre. Paying Newton Abbot a visit is not recommended, on my first visit it reminded me of Gainsborough but without the nightlife. But, Newton Abbot does have a secondhand vinyl emporium situated inside the new pannier market.
As a teenager, back in the late 1970's I used to "work" the markets. My mother had a stall selling material (curtains, soft furnishings etc) and I used to help out for cash when I should have been studying for exams. Boston Monday, Gainsborough Tuesday, Newark Wednesday, Ashby Thursday, Gainsborough Friday and Scunthorpe on a Saturday. The timetable has stuck with me all these years. And if the weekly business was slow we'd do Melton Mowbary on Sunday - this is all very pre Car Boot. One of the joys of working on the markets is that every one had a secondhand vinyl stall. (Who can forget Andy Dobbs on Lincoln Market)? Newton Abbot keeps up that tradition.
The stall has no name but is a permanent fixture. The main stock is of 1970's and 1980's rock LP's - expect to see lots of UFO, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd etc alongside Kingmaker, Senseless Things and Public Image Limited. There were thousands of CD's too with a "punk" section. The guy also has a few 7"'s but keeps them behind the counter. A lot of chart punk like The Stranglers, Skids and Gary Numan. He did have a copy of Leyton Buzzards "Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palm Trees" for £1.75, but I've already got it! (that would have been the find of the browse). The chap keeps prices low with an average of a fiver for an LP, four for a CD and thirty bob a seven inch. He told me he likes to keep stock rolling.
If you are unfortunate enough to be in Newton Abbot for an hour or more it is worth a browse...you never know.

Pictures:
1: Stall inside pannier market.
2: Outside Fascia.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for dissing my home town, we do have history and we do have things going for us, clearly you just don't look very hard. We have some lovley parks and at least we have a market at all, some towns have none.

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