Albouystown or La Penitence Market, Demerara

Image 01 - Albouystown Market (1950s)

Image 02 - La Penitence Market with buyers and sellers (1960s)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown
[image 02] - Kerry & Son Limited

Kitty Market, Georgetown

Image01 - Kitty Farm Market, Georgetown (1930)

Sources:

[image 01] - Unknown

Bourda Market, Georgetown

Bourda Market was established in 1880 and named after the Dutch plantation owner Joseph Bourda (died 1798) who owned Plantation Vlissengen. The market was needed when Stabroek Market was being re-built in 1880. It served as a temporary location for the displaced Stabroek Market vendors. But Bourda Market became popular and was expanded to accommodate more vendors and remained a permanent market. The image shows scenes from Bourda Market in 1930s British Guiana.



Sources

[Image] - Unknown

The Municipal Market, New Amsterdam

The original New Amsterdam started as a small village surrounding Fort Nassau in about 1733. The governing power at the time was the Dutch and many of the settlers were from Amsterdam, Holland. In about 1784 the village moved to the location at the Berbice and Canje Rivers and was officially made a town and the seat of government for Berbice. One of the main reasons for the move was to easily access the wealth of the land and to facilitate shipping along the waterways. During the period 1838 to 1844 a number of facilities (such as the Town Hall, the Supreme Court, Churches and Schools, Water and Electricity, and Gardens) were built to service the town. Also built was the Municipal Market of New Amsterdam. In 1891 the town became a Municipality. The image below shows the Municipal Market in 1924 at which time New Amsterdam was under the control of the British.

 

Sources
[image] Unknown

Ice-Stall in the Market

Ice was a much needed commodity in the hot tropical climate of frontier colonies. The ice was needed for food preservation, cooling for comfort, cooling during fevers, etc. The ice was harvested from lakes in the USA, and shipped to British Guiana well-packaged with layers of sawdust and hay. The ice was sold at Ice-Stalls in the market. The sketch below shows the scene at an ice-stall in 1888.



Sources
[image] Illustrated London News, "Sketches in Georgetown, Demerara", 1888-04-07