The idea of a dedicated market place was first mooted in 1837 by Preston Council, but it wasn’t until 1860 that work finally started on the project.
It was a huge undertaking and building was marred by controversary and tragedy when construction was halted by the collapse of the structure. One man was seriously injured, but thankfully went on to make a full recovery. The covered market was finally given a grand opening in 1875 and it has proudly stood in the heart of Preston since then.
Plans to redevelop the covered market – including a glass enclosure – were first proposed way back in 1988, but the idea was shot down. Preston City Council were not be thwarted though and they finally got their wish granted when in 2018 the new covered market was unveiled – complete with a wooden clad and glass interior. Still hankering for more retro? Check out these other recent pieces...
25. David Parkins was a Tuson College lecturer who helped out on his wife's stall, selling crockery and glassware at the car boot sales held on Preston's covered market Photo: Archive
26. In 1985 it was decided to allow a car boot sale to run on Preston's covered market for a trial period of six months. Pictured here is Mrs Kitty Sharples with Coun Albert Richardson (centre) at the opening of the car boot sale. At the time it was claimed to be one of the biggest in Europe Photo: Archive
28. In 1984 Preston Council gave the go-ahead for a modernisation project which included the use of metal-framed tubular tables to be used for the stalls on Preston's covered market. Stallholder Lawrence Bateson is pictured here with the old-style wooden trestle which had been used at the Victorian market for generations Photo: Bernard Howe
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