New Shambles. Swan Street, Smithfield ,Manchester
Won in competition and opened on 23 December 1858.
The corporation of Manchester invite architects to furnish designs and estimates for the erection of a building on the site of the present Shambles in that town, with duplicate fronts to Swan Street and the general market, which are to be of par-point walling with rubbed dressings. The internal arrangement to consist of shops around the boundary walls for butchers, with a gallery over for the accommodation of dealers in miscellaneous articles; the area of the market to be provides with stalls suitable for butchers. The expense not to exceed £400. Premiums of £30 and £10. Designs to be sent to Mr J Heron, Town Clerk, Town Hall, Manchester. [Civil Engineer and Architects Journal 1856 page 285]
OPENING OF THE NEW MARKET-HALL, SMITHFIELD, MANCHESTER —On the 23rd ult. the new market-hall, in connection with the covered market, in Smithfield, was formally opened. It is built of stone, and fronts Swan Street, Eagle Street, Goadsby Street, and Coop Street. There is an entrance from each street, the principal one being that in Goadsby Street. The style of architecture may be designated Roman composite. The principal front is divided into a centre recess and wings, the centre being formed by anta-, or pilasters, with moulded bases, and capitals of carved rams' and bulls' heads, interlaced with foliage. The pilasters support an entablature and pediment: the entablature extends completely round the building. The recesses are designed with semi-circular arches, and wrought in sunk stone-work. The cornice is surmounted by a low attic, or roof parapet. The Swan-street entrance is similar in design to that in Goadsby-street. The exterior dimensions are —length, 105 feet; width, 90 feet; interior, 77 feet by 60 feet; height, 44 feet. Internally, on each side, there are four shops, and in the central area twenty-eight open stalls of ornamental workmanship; the whole of the latter being for butchers. A gallery 12 feet wide, formed over the shops, runs round the building, for the sale of jewellery, baskets, &c. The central portion of the roof is supported by sixteen iron columns, formed of decorated ribs of cast iron. These support lighter ribs which compose the framing of a lanthorn light, and also a sort of clerestory. The roof over the galleries has a continuance of sheet sky-lights 9 feet wide. The pendant gaslights were designed by the architects, Messrs. Holden and Son. The total cost of the building will be about £5,000. Mr. S. Taylor was clerk of works. [Builder 1 January 1859 page 17]
NEW MARKET HALL - The new market, which nearly occupies the site of the old butchers' market, has four fronts, the principal of which, are to Goadsby Street (between the new building and Smithfield Market), and to Swan-street. The area of the site is 108 feet by 98 feet; the interior area measures 77 feet by 60 feet, and the height 44 feet. The building is of Yorkshire pierre-point stone, with Summit stone ashlar dressings. The Goadsby Street front is divided into a centre and wings, the centre formed with ornamental pilasters, having for capitals a composition of rams' heads in foliage; and supporting an entablature and pediments. in the tympanum of which is an elaborate piece of carving, representing the Corporation arms, between cornucopian. In the centre of the frieze is the inscription. Mackie, Mayor, 1858." The Swan Street front is of similar general design, but is without carving over the entrance, in the place of which is the inscription, “Smithfield Market Hall;” and on the frieze, extending all along this front, are the words. " Erected by the Corporation of this city, Anno Domini 1857.” There are four entrances, one in each side of the building. Inside, the area is surrounded by sixteen shops which will be occupied principally by butchers, but also by bakers. cheesemongers, etc. The area is divided into a centre and two side avenues, and is filled with 28 stalls supported by ornamental work in cast iron, the whole of which will be exclusively occupied by butchers. Over the shops, and surrounding the inner area, is a gallery, 12 feet wide with an ornamental cast-iron balustrade. This is divided at the front by pedestals supporting carved candelabra. The gallery will be appropriated to the sale of baskets, toys, caps, etc. The roof is supported by 16 lofty columns. The centre of the roof is a sort of clerestory lighted by large windows of plate glass. The whole construction of the roof is of iron, and the work in the centre is very elaborate. For the lighting at night, besides the candelabra, the centre has six sun lights of gas with an arrangement of reflectors designed by the architects, which increase considerably the amount of illumination usually given by sun-lights. The whole of the shops and stalls are already let. The cost of the building is about £5,000. The architects are Messrs. Isaac Holden and Son. The designs were agreed upon in the Autumn of 1856. and it was expected that the budding would have been opened last Spring. but difficulties arose, and the opening of the hall was unavoidably delayed. We have no doubt that it will now be found very commodious and comfortable both for buyers and sellers. [Manchester Guardian 24 December 1858 page 5]
The market closed in 1974 and the Mackie Mayor has since been used as a skate park before being restored by Muse Developments in 2016 (Architect Buttress Architects)
Reference Civil Engineer and Architects Journal 1856 page 285
Reference Manchester Guardian Wednesday 11 March 1857 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference Manchester Courier 14 March 1857 page 11
Reference Builder 1 January 1859 page 17
Reference Manchester Guardian 24 December 1858 page 5
