Review: Chandler's Ford Produce and Craft Market

Yesterday, following recommendations on Chandler’s Ford Today, my husband and I visited this small but interesting local market held in the Age Concern hall at the top of Brownhill Road.

This market is carefully managed, with the needs of regular local stallholders in mind, and features around 12 stalls selling locally-produced food and crafts (no traders).

Chandler's Ford Produce and Craft Market 2017 has started. — Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2017 has started.

We visited the woodturning stall and admired the many and varied goods for sale at very reasonable prices.

Next was a stall selling original and charming items made from glass. We purchased two books of short stories written by a group of local authors (two of these authors were manning the stall).

Boook 2: More Secret Lives of Chandler's Ford by four Chandler's Ford authors. (Image credit: Karen Stephen) — Book 2: More Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford by four Chandler’s Ford authors. (Image credit: Karen Stephen)

Two of the authors, Sally Howard and Karen Stephen. Image credit: Karen Stephen.

There was a new stall featuring deep-set picture frames with words inside made up from Scrabble tiles, so I bought the perfect little gift for my Scrabble-fanatic friend. Next, there was a stall selling a variety of textile crafts and home-made marmalade.

Scrabble craft at Chandler's Frod Produce and Craft Market. — Scrabble craft at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market.

The fruit and veg stall was extensive and featured beautiful, high-quality fruit and veg at reasonable prices. There was an interesting home-made jewellery stall and a cake stall, though most of the cakes had been sold by the time we arrived.

Fresh fruit and vegetable at the local market of Chandler's Ford. — Fresh fruit and vegetable at the local market of Chandler’s Ford.

We spent some time (and money) at an unusual candle stall. The candles were made of soft paraffin and set inside lovely little cup and saucer sets that the crafter had sourced from car boot and antique stalls. When the candle had burned away, the purchaser would have a pretty fine china cup and saucer set to adorn a display cabinet. We bought a humorous cheeky china cat candle for a friend’s birthday.

Great gifts - tea cup candles. — Great gifts – tea cup candles.

There was also a stall selling wooden toys, and another selling quirky items made from wood, manned by people from Eastleigh college.

A variety of handmade products made by local people.

Wooden trains and clever designs - all delicate and beautiful. — Wooden trains and clever designs – all delicate and beautiful.

What a pleasant experience, and right on our doorstep in Chandler’s Ford. Next time, I will take my shopping trolley on wheels and stock up on fruit and veg.