Fish Market, Market Place, Manchester

THE NEW FISH MARKET – We understand that it is proposed to open the new fish market to the public on Monday next. It occupies the site of ground extending from the front of Market Place on a line with Old Millgate nearly to Smithy Door, being the site on which the Old Shambles stood, and which, when the new butchers’ market in Brown Street was opened, were removed for the purpose of making room for the present erection. It is an extremely handsome light building of brick cased with stone to a certain height, above which is open ironwork of very handsome pattern and workmanship, cast, we understand, at the foundry of Messrs Ebenezer Smith and Company of Chesterfield. There is an entrance at each end and sides of the building, closed with large iron gates, of the same pattern as the sides of the building. The fish stalls, of which there are six doubles and five single ones, are of stone, the tops of large slate slabs, each stall, furnished with a leaded cistern, and to the roof of the building are attached rails of proper height on which to hang rabbits, wild fowl, etc. The whole building is cellared; each stall having its own cellar, with an entrance from outside, and another through a trap-door at the back of the stall, well fitted up with cisterns and other conveniences for the storing of fish, and are well-supplied with water. The stalls are also severally supplied with gas lights; and altogether the place is exceedingly well adapted to the purposes for which it is designed, being almost as light and airy as if in the open street. Of course, the present fish stalls in the Market Place will be removed if the new building be found large enough to accommodate all the dealers, which, however, we have some fear may scarcely be the case: but no expense has been spared by the lord of the manor to make it as commodious and convenient as the space of ground would permit. The building has an extremely handsome appearance from the Market Place. [Manchester Guardian 20 December 1828 page 2]

Advertisement – John Wood, fishmonger, had taken a stall – amply provided with all varieties of fish in season, native oysters from London daily by coach {Manchester Guardian 20 December 1828 p1]

Opened     22 December 1828

Reference    Manchester Guardian 20 December 1828 page 2
Reference    Manchester Guardian 20 December 1828 page 1 -advert