Campfield Market, Knott Mill

The Upper and Lower Market Halls on Liverpool Road were built on almost the last remaining open space in an area of Manchester which had seen considerable development following the building of the Bridgewater Canal, Rochdale Canal and the Manchester & Liverpool Railway.  The market halls were built on either side of St Matthews Church, on Camp Field, land previously used for open-air markets. These markets, held twice a week, included one for hay and straw and another for old clothes and second‑hand boots, reflecting the general poverty of the area. Until 1876 there had also been four annual fairs held at Campfield, the oldest of these being the Acres Fair, held under a Charter of 1326. This had transferred to Campfield in 1825, when its original site was developed to form the present St Anne's Square. However, the largest and most popular of the annual fairs was the Knott Mill Fair, a pleasure fair held each  Easter and lasting for a week. Already established as a major event by the early years of the nineteenth century, the fair attracted large crowds and many of the best Victorian travelling shows. Especially after the opening of the Free Library on Deansgate, there was increased local objection to the disruption which these fairs brought to the area leading to their abolition by the Council in 1876. The Council determined to provide two covered market halls on the site, Mangnall & Littlewood, in competition with two other local practices, Barker & Ellis and Corson & Aitken, finally being commissioned to design the buildings. The halls  were mainly of cast iron construction, much of it produced by the local foundry of E.T. Bellhouse, with roofs of wrought iron and glass. The Lower Market Hall was completed in 18780 and the Upper Market Hall opened in 1882.

MANCHESTER - About three months ago, the Corporation of Manchester invited Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods, Messrs. Barker and Ellis, and Messrs Corson and Aitken, to compete for the best design for the market about to be erected at Knott Mill. Plans were prepared and submitted to Messrs. Mills and Murgatroyd, architects, also of Manchester, who were asked to report to the markets committee upon their respective merits. Messrs. Mills and Murgatroyd have selected the design of Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods as being the most suitable in every respect, and their decision was adopted by the markets committee, and confirmed by the City Council on Wednesday. The construction of the market, as proposed by Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods, will consist of cast-iron columns and pilasters, and the supports at each angle of the market, and on each side of the main avenues and entrances, will be square cast-iron panelled pilasters. Internally the columns will be round. The height of the roof to the main avenues will be 35ft. from the ground to the louvred part, which is to rise 3ft. 6in. higher, and is to be filled in with louvres for ventilation. A small clock turret has been designed. The cost of the market complete, including columns and foundations thereto, for covering the whole of the land, would be £18,000. By the design of Messrs. Barker and Ellis it was pro- posed to carry the roofing of the market, by ornamental cast-iron columns, about 20ft. high, fluted, and with foliated capitals. The columns in the west market were to be so arranged as to divide the building by a cross avenue, about 38ft. wide, running north and south, and the three main divisions, each 40ft. wide, running from end to end, were to have two rows of columns about 38ft. apart. In the west market it was proposed that the central bay should be higher than the rest of the structure, so as to break the monotony of the long line, and at the same time to improve the light and ventilation. The estimated cost of the two markets, according to this design, would have been £13,610. Messrs. Corson and Aitken pre- pared two sets of designs, one of which might be considered strictly utilitarian, while in the other, structural features were made to contribute to architectural effect, and to enhance the character of the neighbourhood. In the former, each site was to be covered by two parallel roofs, each having a span of 52ft., with a lean-to roof of 10ft. span on the street side. The estimated cost of this design, exclusive of everything but the roofs and their supports, was £8,190, or 6,300 yards of area covered at £1 6s. per yard. The more ornate design pre- pared by the same firm has a central avenue rising higher than the side roofs, and lighted and ventilated by clerestory windows. The total cost of the design would be about £12,000. [Building News 8 December 1876 page 584-585]

CORPORATION MABKET AT KNOTT MILL, MANCHESTER - The design for the new covered market which the Corporation of Manchester propose to erect at Knott Mill has just been selected by the markets committee, and will be submitted to the city council for consideration. About three months ago, the corporation invited Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods, Messrs. Barker and Ellis, and Messrs. Corson and Aitken, architects, of this city, to compete for the best design for the market. Plans were prepared and submitted to Messrs. Mills & Murgatroyd, architects, also of Manchester, who were asked to report to the markets committee upon their respective merits. Messrs. Mills & Murgatroyd have selected the design of Messrs. Mangnall & Littlewoods as being the most suitable in every respect. The land proposed to be covered by the Corporation to form the new market is divided into two plots, separated by St. Matthew's Church. That bounded on the west by Lower Byrom-street is the larger, and contains in the aggregate 4,400 square yards; the other, nearer Deansgate, contains 2,767 square yards of nett land. The construction of the market, as pro- posed by Messrs. Mangnall and  Littlewoods, will consist of cast-iron columns and pilasters, and the supports at each angle of the market, and on each side of the main avenues and entrances, will be square cast-iron panelled pilasters, which will give solidity to its general appearance. Internally the columns will be round, so as to offer as little obstruction as possible. In laying out the land the ground has been kept as clear as possible of obstruction by the formation in the centre of each plot of a main avenue 50 feet in width. The height of the roof to the main avenues will be 35 feet from the ground to the louvred part, which is to rise 3 feet 6 inches higher, and is to be filled in with louvres for ventilation. The roof to this portion is to be elliptical in out- line, constructed with wrought-iron principals, tied with wrought-iron rods, which will be at the height of 29 ft. from the ground in the centre. An alternative proposal which Messrs.  Mangnall and Littlewoods have made is, that a wrought-iron lattice construction, principally of elliptical form, of 50 feet span, should be erected over the main avenues. This roof would not require rods, but would involve an additional cost of about £1,000. The cost of the market complete, including columns and foundations thereto, for covering the whole of the land, would be £18,000. [Builder 16 December 1876 page 1224]

NEW CORPORATION MARKET AT KNOTT MILL - The design for the new covered market which the Corporation of Manchester propose to erect at Knott Mill has just been selected by the Markets Committee. About three months ago the Corporation invited Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods, Messrs Barker and Ellis, and Messrs Corson and Aitken, architects, of this city, to compete for the best design for the market. Plans were prepared and submitted to Messrs Mills and Murgatroyd, architects, also of Manchester, who were asked to report to the Markets Committee upon their respective merits. Messrs Mills and Murgatroyd have selected the design of Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods as being the most suitable in every respect. The land proposed to be covered by the Corporation to form the new market is divided into two plots, separated by St. Matthew's Church. That bounded on the west by Lower Byrom Street is the larger, and contains in the aggregate 4,400 square yards; the other nearer Deansgate contains 2,757 square yards of net land. The construction of the market, as proposed by Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods, will consist of cast-iron columns and pilasters, and the supports at each angle of the market, and on each side of the main avenues and entrances, will be square cast- iron panelled pilasters, which will give solidity to its general appearance. Internally the columns will be round, so as to offer as little obstruction as possible. In laying out the land the ground has been kept as clear as possible of obstruction by the formation in the centre of each plot of a main avenue fifty feet in width. The height of the roof to the main avenues will be 35ft. from the ground to the louvred part, which is to rise 3 feet 6 inches higher, and is to be filled in with louvres for ventilation. The roof to this portion is to be elliptical in outline, constructed with wrought-iron principals, tied with wrought-iron rode, which will be at the height of 29 feet from the ground in the centre. Lights, formed of red deal, to receive rough plate-glass, are to be fixed to the whole of the louvred or raised portion of the roof, and in all there will be a width of 30ft. of glass over the centre avenue roof. The remainder is to be covered with timber and slates, to be faced on the inside with diagonally-laid boarding. The roofs to the outside portions of the market are to be of simpler construction, with spans varying from 36 feet to 82 feet and 34 feet in width. These principals will also be constructed of wrought-iron, each being formed of T iron, trussed, with wrought-iron rods, and tied together with rods of the same. These roofs will also be constructed with red deal roof lights, with ventilation in the centre, and about 12 feet of glass on each side, measured on the slope from the ridge to the eaves. The several principals will rest upon and be supported by wrought iron lattice girders of various depths, according to the span, and all constructed as open and light as possible, consistent with the strength required. The whole of the roof construction has been carefully considered and has been so designed as to give as light and elegant a form as possible at a reason- able cost. The external gable of the main avenues above the segmental line of girder is to be filled in with red deal open framing of suitable design and glazed with rough plate glass. The external cornices are to have cast iron ornamental gutters to the eaves, projecting and supported by cast iron brockets springing from caps of columns. A small clock turret has been designed, which will not only add to the general appearance, but be of great utility. An office for collectors and another for the market inspector are to be erected on the plot nearest Deansgate and constructed of wood and glass framing carried to the height of 10ft. above the ground. An alternative proposal which Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods have made is that a wrought iron lattice construction principally of elliptical form of 50 feet span, should be erected over the main avenues. This roof would not require rods but would involve an additional cost of about £1,000. The cost of the market complete, including columns and foundations thereto, for covering the whole of the land, would be £18,000. The design of Messrs. Barker and Ellis was to have cost £13.610.  Messrs Corson and Aitken proposed to erect a market for £12,060. – Manchester Courier [Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 7 December 1876 page 4]

CAMPFIELD MARKET, MANCHESTER - The tender of James Herd, Bristol-street, Hulme for £20,200 was accepted by the Markets Committee. The building is to be of iron and glass with a plan similar to that at Shudehill. [Building News 2 March 1877 Page 233]

THE CAMPFIELD MARKET -One of the corner stones of the new covered market at Campfield was laid on Thursday afternoon by Mr. Councillor Ashton, chairman of the markets committee of the Manchester Corporation. Occupying the old Knott Mill fair ground, the market will cover an area of about 7,000 square yards. Two buildings will be erected - St. Matthew's Church dividing the land -and the contract price of their construction is £20,390. The larger erection will be bounded by Liverpool Road, Tonman Street, Byrom Street, and Lower Byrom Street, and for the present it will be open on all four sides, the work contemplated being simply a shed supported by iron pillars. The columns will be made of cast iron, with wrought-iron principals, and the roof will also be of wrought iron, covered partly with plate glass and partly with slate. The roof principals to the main avenue -the market being intersected by two avenues, 50 feet. in width, will be constructed on the lattice form and elliptical. The elevation to Liverpool Road and the surrounding streets, as shown on the drawings, has an ornate appearance. A similar description applies to the smaller market, which will reach close to the backs of the houses fronting Deansgate, and it is probable that in the immediate future this building will be continued to Deansgate. The architects of the buildings are Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods, Brown-street, Manchester; Mr. J. Herd, Hulme, has taken the contract; and Messrs. E. T. I Bellhouse and Company are sub—contractors for the iron work and Messrs Ellis and Hinchliffe for the masonry; Mr J Matthews, who held the same office during the construction of the Royal Exchange and the Conservative Club, being clerk of the works. [The Manchester Times 12 May 1877 page 6]

ADDITIONS, CAMPFIELD MARKET - Some additions are about to be made to the new market at Campfield, Manchester, at a cost of about £4,000, from the plans of Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewood, the architects. [Building News 8 November 1878 page 491]

A general market was held in the Lower Market Hall until the Council constructed yet another market hall, now demolished, on the corner of Tonman Street. The Lower Hall became an exhibition centre, eventually being leased to Provincial Exhibitions Ltd in the 1920s. This company refurbished the building, now re named 'City Exhibition Hall', and it was used to stage a wide variety of events until the 1970s. After remaining vacant for some years it was restored to house the Air and Space Museum, opened in 1983. the Upper Market Hall has also been restored.

Reference     Building News 8 December 1876 page 584-585
Reference    Builder 16 December 1876 page 1224
Reference    Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 7 December 1876 page 4 from the Manchester Courier
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 27 January 1877 Page 5  (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Tuesday 30 January 1877 Page 1  (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Friday 2 February 1877 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference    British Architect 2 February 1877 Page 78
Reference    Building News 2 March 1877 Page 233 – contract awarded
Reference    Manchester Guardian 1 March 1877 - contract awarded
Reference    Manchester Times 12 May 1877 page 6 – corner stone
Reference    Building News 8 November 1878 page 491 - additions