Who remembers going down to Setts Market in Sheffield at 5am to bag the best pair of shoes?

There was nothing quite like finding a shoe you like out on the table only to see someone else was holding the other shoe.
Setts Market shoe sale - held on Fridays .
September 1993Setts Market shoe sale - held on Fridays .
September 1993
Setts Market shoe sale - held on Fridays . September 1993

Going down to the open air market on Exchange Street in the early hours to get the best shoes was a right of passage for many in the 1980s.

The shoes were held together with elastic bands and if you couldn’t find the colour you wanted but in your size people were known to buy them and dye them just so they could have the snazziest shoes for a night out.

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A generation of shoe-aholics were born as people climbed the steps either before school or after finishing a night shift. You had to get there early in case your size went because once it was gone that was it it was gone. And at £1.99 for some loafers or two pairs of heels for £5 quality wasn’t top of your mind so who had to always make sure they had plasters in for the back of their heels!

Sheffield Setts Market 1974Sheffield Setts Market 1974
Sheffield Setts Market 1974

And now the shoe market is long gone it does bring back fond memories of a shopping experience like no other.

Share your memories of shopping for shoes at Setts or wearing the shoes out on the town. Tell us where you went and what it was like back in the day. Email any thoughts or photos Lucy Ball the Star’s retro reporter on [email protected]

Have you joined The Star’s new retro Facebook group – full of memories and nostalgia from across the city – click here to find it

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