A Brief History of Grafton Street

The Grafton Street Buskers is a relatively new group of performers in Dunmow, Essex. These buskers began operating on the road in April of 2021. The group was formed by two buskers, Nicky Broadbent and Michael Rice. They were attempting to make a living by selling fresh fruit and vegetables at their roadside stands. Many of the local residents became familiar with the buskers due to the continual stream of visitors they attracted, but some people complained about their loud music and the aggressive nature of some of the buskers. In an effort to appease the critics, the group met with the Police and agreed to remove their aggressive tactics.

Grafton Street is one of the main streets in Dunmow, Essex. This is where the renowned Dunmow railway station is located. Once they moved into this busy area of town, the buskers began to sell their fresh produce. It soon became a popular attraction for passers by who enjoyed the fresh produce and friendly atmosphere. Within a few months, the street buskers had become very popular and they began to pack out the nearby stores. This gave the other merchants an advantage and they quickly boosted their sales as the buskers left for greener pastures.

The most outstanding feature of the Grafton Street Buskers is the original buskers front. The buskers painted the front of their vehicle a bright yellow to easily seen from passing cars. Although the vehicle was painted, the graffiti was not permanent. A small flag was attached to the front of the busker's car for easy recognition. As time went on, more flags were added to give the appearance that the street buskers had their own flagstaff.

The original four buskers worked part time and lived in what is now called the Copper Mines Road. When they were not painting the side of their buskers vehicles, they would sleep in an old fashioned stove heated by an open fire. They would also use candles to light their way. Over the years, the copper mines opened up more ways to earn income and the buskers began moving up to larger, cleaner vehicles. When the streets of Grafton Street were closed down for the construction of the railroad, many of the street buskers left Grafton Street altogether.

Grafton Street has always been a center of activities and the street buskers still hang out there today. Some of the older buskers may have retired but they keep coming back to the same old thing. Many of the newer faces of the street buskers have moved to the nearby Woolston Street Park and they have a permanent home there. For many of the newer faces of the street buskers the move was easier than the older buskers because they could stay at one location and bring in additional income.

You will see a number of new faces at the Woolston Park busking spot every day. If you happen to pass by while the buskers are performing their routines, don't be afraid to stop and watch. You may be able to see these performers give each other the once over and perhaps you can spot the next performer right away. The area of Grafton Street is one of the most interesting streets in all of Scotland.