Market Hall, Wigan

The Market Hall, opened 21 May 1877, is a structure of red brick with stone facings, erected at a cost of £16,000, from the designs of the late Mr. J. L. Hunter, borough engineer, and stands in the centre of an open space, with good approaches. The Fish Market is a separate building and consists of a single avenue with stalls on either side. 

NEW MARKET HALL - On Monday, at Wigan, a new Market Hall was opened by the Mayor (Mr. Walter Mayhew). For 600 years the markets have been held in the streets, a charter having been granted in 1247 to the then rector of Wigan. From this time there were two market days—Monday and Friday, — and up to 1860 the rector of the borough received the tolls from the letting of the stalls, etc, on one day and the corporation the other. In that year the corporation bought the rector's tolls and manorial rights for £2,800, and since then the corporation has received the full amounts taken. For forty years the question of building a covered market for Wigan has been under consideration, but it was not until 1871 that a site was selected. In 1874 the corporation decided to erect a hall and offered premiums for designs. The then borough engineer (Mr. Hunter) reported on the various designs forwarded, but the Market Committee awarded the prizes in opposition to his report. In 1875 the committee asked Mr. Hunter to prepare a design himself, and this was eventually selected and adopted. The contract for the building was let to Mr. C. B. Holmes, Wigan, for £12,500, and he afterwards obtained the contract for the internal fittings for £1,900. The new Market Hall is 200 feet long by 150 feet broad, and 26 feet high. It is lighted by twelve windows on the west front and on the north and south gables of the building, and also by a continuous roof light on each side. There are five entrances. The fish market, which is a separate building adjoining the main one, is 120 feet long by 50 feet wide, with capacious entrances, and is similar to the other building with respect to height and ventilation. In the general market there are forty-two shops, twenty butchers' stalls, twenty fruiterers' stalls, besides earthenware stalls, and tables for hardware, drapery, butter, etc. The stalls and shops were let by public auction and realised extraordinary prices, the total amounting to £93 per week, or nearly £5,000 a year, a result far beyond expectation. Stalls are henceforth to be removed from the streets. [British Architect 1 June 1877 page 339]  

WIGAN - A new market-hall has lately been opened at Wigan. It appears that for forty years the question of building a covered market tor Wigan has been under discussion, but it was not until 1871 that a site was definitely selected. This, however, did not include a covered building, but in 1874 the Corporation decided to erect a hall, and offered premiums to architects for designs. The then borough engineer (Mr. Hunter) reported on the various designs forwarded, but the Market Committee awarded the prizes in opposition to his report. In 1875 the committee asked Mr. Hunter to prepare a design himself, and this was eventually selected and adopted by the town. The contract for the building was let to Mr. C, B. Holmes, Wigan, for £13,500., and he afterwards obtained the contract for the internal fittings for £1,900. The new market-hall is an oblong building, 300 feet long by 150 feet, and 26 feet high. The fish-market, which is a separate building, is 120 feet long by 50 feet wide. In the general market there are forty-two shops, twenty butchers’ stalls, twenty fruiterers’ stalls, besides earthenware stalls, tables for hardware, drapery, butter, etc. The stalls and shops were let by public auction and realised nearly £5,000 a year. [Builder 18 August 1877 page 840]