Fish Markets, Upper High Street, Shudehill, Manchester

Two new fish markets - wholesale and retail - were built by Manchester Corporation and opened by the mayor of Manchester, W Booth, on 14 February 1873, building work having commenced in the latter part of 1871. The new markets replaced that in Great Ducie Street Strangeways They were much larger than their predecessor and close to Shudehill market. Red brick in Flemish bond with sandstone dressing. Romanesque style. The wholesale market remained an important part of Manchester's central market system until the 1970s when plans were announced for a new market in Openshaw. There was some concern over the fate of the panels though the idea of removing them to the new fish market was not realised. In 1977 the building was finally closed and in the following years the roof and some of the walls were removed but not the sculptural panels. In 1987 the fish market was included in the newly created Smithfield Conservation Area. The roofless building was used as a garden centre for some years though it more recent times it has begun to show signs of neglect. Plans announced in 2000 for this part of the city's Northern Quarter envisage a refurbished market building including its 'stone artwork'. The larger of the two market buildings, covered an area of 2000 square yards with stalls for 32 dealers. Brick with an abundance of stone dressings and well ventilated. Double span roof The basement contained extensive cellars, eight of which were ice stores entered through a manhole at the top. The remaining cellars were entered from the street. Cost £42,000?. Main entrance - arched gateway of considerable height and breadth with smaller ones on each side. A roadway wide enough to take three vehicles abreast, ran the length of the building with footpaths branching off each side. Raised up on stilts behind the stalls were the offices of wood and glass where the clerks would record business. Six bold relief carvings set above each entrance showed scenes of fishermen leaving port and returning with their catch. Caved by Bonehill of Manchester.  Situated on the opposite side of Upper High Street, the retail fish market covered an area of 1000 square yards with a single span roof. Well lit and ventilated space. Cost £6000.

THE NEW FISH MARKET - One of the principal buildings now in course of erection is the Wholesale Fish-market in High-street, adjoining Smithfield Market, which is being built for the Corporation. The architects are Messrs Speakman and Son, and the general contractors Messrs Wade Brothers. The foundations are completed and give some indication of the stupendous undertaking. The site measures 2,080 square yards. The market floor will have a roadway wide enough for three vehicles, running from High-street, where the main entrances will be, to Little Stable-street, and from the roadway will converge footpaths for the convenience of the market people. The basement is divided into twenty-five cellars, including one large general cellar which will be approached by external staircases from High-street. Eight of the smaller cellars will be used as ice stores, access to which will be by means of manholes. Over the back portion of the building, parallel to Smithfield market will be erected eight offices, to be occupied by the more extensive dealers, which, being elevated, and extending the whole length of the business area, will enable those who use them to command a view of the whole transactions below. The building, except the offices, will be roofed into two spans. Brick, with stone dressings will be the chief components of the main elevation, stonework being freely employed. The building will be so arranged on the side in Edge-street that, in the event of an extension to the market, the walling can be conveniently displaced without interfering with the main part of the structure. Extending from roof to floor there will be courses of stonework similar to that used in the clothes market opposite. To secure adequate light, glass will be extensively employed both in the upper and lower portions of the building. Ventilation being an indispensable requisite, this, by an ingenious contrivance, will be achieved by means of flues, openings and manholes. All the cellars will be freely ventilated by flues communicating with the roof, thereby obtaining at all times a free current of air. The foundations have been built in by Messrs Rutherford and Son, Cheetham. [The Manchester City News Saturday 20 January 1872. Page 3]

NEW FISH MARKETS. MANCHESTER - Last week the mayor of Manchester (Alderman Booth) formally opened the new fish markets, which have been erected within the last eighteen months, with the view to supersede the wholesale fish market in Strangeways. The new markets, two in number - a wholesale market and a retail market - are situates one on each side of Upper High-street adjoining the Shudehill market, the entrances to all three being within a few yards of each other. The wholesale market is about twice as large as the retail, and has a main entrance from Upper High-street consisting of three lofty arched gateways with sculptured decorations. Its area is about 2000 square yards, and it has stalls for thirty-two dealers, for whom also convenient offices are provided, both on the market floor and in an elevated part of the building at the back, approached by stairs. Under the market are a number of cellars, eight of which are constructed to serve as ice stores. It is roofed with two spans. The cost has been £42,000. The retail market on the opposite side of the street has an area of 1000 square yards and cost ,6000. The architects were Messrs Speakman & Son, and the contractors for the large market were Messrs Wade Brothers of Miles Platting and Mr Southern, Salford; and the retail market Mr Edward Johnson.[Builder 22 February 1873 Page 153]

MANCHESTER WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS - These markets, built by the Manchester Corporation are situated in High-street and Little Stable-street, Shudehill, and were opened for business on 14 February last. They were designed by Messrs Speakman Son & Hickson, architects of Manchester and cost about £20,000. The main elevations on High-street and Little Stable-street are alike formed of stock brick and Yorkshire stone dressings. The base, which also continues along the whole of Edge-street is of Bolton stone and fine picked. The Edge-street elevation, above sill is formed of iron and wood framing filled in with rough plate glass and upon the top is wrought ironwork. [Builder 13 September 1873 Page 725]

NEW FISH MARKETS, MANCHESTER - Two fish markets were opened on February 14, in Upper High Street, by the Mayor. The larger of the two will be devoted to the wholesale business, and the smaller one, which is just opposite it on the other side of the street, will be reserved for the retail dealers. Both markets are built of brick, with stone dressings, and are well ventilated. The wholesale market, which cost £42,000, has an area of 2,000 square yards, and is entirely covered with a double span roof, in which, as well as along the sides, is an abundance of glass for the admission of light. The main entrance from Upper High Street consists of an arched gateway of considerable height and breadth, with a smaller one on each side, and all three are surmounted by sculptural decorations. From this entrance a roadway wide enough for three vehicles to pass abreast, runs through the market to the further end, with footpaths branching out on either side. There are stalls for thirty-two dealers, for all of them suitable offices are also provided, both on the floor of the market, and in some upper rooms constructed towards the back. The basement underneath the market is occupied by cellars, eight of which are ice stores, and are entered through man holes from the top. The others are entered from the street. Arrangements are made for the extension of the market at the back should it become necessary at any future time. The retail market, which cost 6,000l., has an area of 1,000 square yards, and is covered with a single span roof. It is well lighted from the roof and sides. The architects of both markets are Messrs. Speakman & Son, Manchester. [The Architect 1 March 1873 page 119]

Reference    The Manchester City News Saturday 20 January 1872. Page 3
Reference    Manchester Guardian 15 February 1873 page 9 Col 3
Reference    Builder 22 February 1873 Page 153
Reference    The Architect 1 March 1873 page 119
Reference    Builder 13 September 1873 Page 725-727
Reference    Builder 4 October 1873 with illustration - transverse section showing the construction of the roof etc.

Note - Extended by Mangnall and Littlewoods