Seven Dials was no different: the shop owners and dealers in second-hand clothes in Monmouth Street (now the section of Shaftesbury Avenue outside the old Odeon Covent Garden cinema) employed 'barkers' who stood outside the shops and touted for buyers. A letter of 1763, describes the ordeal of running up Monmouth Street attempting to escape the clutches of the barkers,

'Sir, As my business often obliges me to pass through Monmouth Street, I cannot help but notice of those People called Barkers, as I think their pulling and hauling Passengers, as they pass by, a great Nuisance, as to the Hinderance of those whose business requires Haste... To those who have never been that Way, a little Sketch of their Manner may not be disagreeable. A little tun bellyed, bottle-nosed Fellow, stopped me t'other Day as I passed, with 'Do you want Clothes, Sir? new or second-hand, Sir? laced or plain Sir?' holding me by the Arm; upon which I told him 'No:' and he let me pass without much ado... I was next accosted by the Jemmy Jessamy of the Street, a tall meagre Lad with a one curled Wig... he put his Fingers on my Arm, and was running on the old Cant, and I slipt past him, and all the rest of them, by running through the Street'.
St James's Chronicle, 1-3 April, 1765

Jane Palm-Gold is an artist, curator, and historian living in St. Giles, London. You can follow Jane on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.