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.
9. Cliff Kay ran a leather and jewellery stall on Preston's covered market in 1982 Photo: Norman Wiggins
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10. In 1982 Lawrence Bateson, who was chairman of the Outdoor Market Traders Association, and he was claiming that a new council ruing was forcing stallholders to pack up business at their busiest time. The ruling stated that all stalls must be cleared from the market by 5.15pm, which for most it would mean starting to load vans about 3 or 4pm Photo: Norman Wiggins
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11. Leonard Lewis - the curtain man - one of the characters at the market. He first started working at the market in 1953 and is the third generation of his family to man the drapery stall on the market. They have been in the same spot since 1890 Photo: Marilyn Quilty
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12. In 1985 Mrs Ruth Freeman had been a stallholder on Preston's covered market for 25 years. She was upset that stalls that were once allocated on a seniority basis were changed to be allocated on a first come first serve rule, and in order to secure vacant stalls some salesmen were arriving at the market offices as early as 3.30am Photo: Bernard Howe
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