Bolton Market Place

Bolton Market Hall was designed by architect G. T. Robinson, and opened on 19 December 1855. Measuring 294 ft in length and covering an area of 7000 sqyd it was said to be 'the largest covered market in the kingdom'. It cost £50,000. A long procession led to the opening ceremony. To complement the produce stalls and boost custom, a fish market was built next to it which opened in 1865 at a cost of £30,000. The fish market was demolished in September 1932. The market hall was modified in 1894 and further alterations were carried out at the turn of the 20th century. In 1938 the interior layout changed with roofed stalls in tightly packed islands replacing the long rows of stalls and in 1982 a…

The building has stone façades, a cast iron and glass roof and is a Grade II listed building. Originally a single space with table stalls and blank elevations, it was modified, in the 1890s, 1930s and 1980s. The roof has large expanses of glazing carried on cast iron columns. At its highest point the ceiling is 112 ft high and has semi-circular arches. It has a hanging cast-iron lantern and once had a decorative fountain. The scheme was contentious involving significant change to a historic building. After consultation and the council awarded planning permission and listed building consent in 2005. English Heritage and the local council's conservation officer were involved in the proposals.…