The Stockport Heritage Trust have very kindly produced this local history feature for readers. Stay tuned for more!

By Maureen Fahey

The 1680 map of Stockport shows the town's 'market house chamber' as a two-storey, colonnaded structure topped by four gables. It stood on the west side of the Market Place and was used for the administration of the market, for the sale of merchandise and sometimes for the assembly of the Court Leet (the manorial court).

At some point during the late 18th or early 19th century, the building was taken down, leaving the Market Place as an open space, with only portable wooden stalls and booths from which traders plied their wares.

In 1842, the lord of the manor, Lord Vernon, decided to have a new market house built, close to the site of the 17th century one; the proposal was met with vehement opposition, as it would result in this most central of areas being unavailable as a venue for public meetings, elections, and so forth.

Nevertheless, Lord Vernon pressed ahead. The building, its interior dimly lit by gas, was open at the sides, meaning that it was not only exposed to the elements but also that no merchandise could be left there overnight as the complete absence of security rendered it a thieves' paradise. The market house was vilified as an eye sore, and a magnet 'for persons who commit great nuisances'.

A map of Stockport in 1680. The church depicted is St Mary's - the trace of the streets is still extant today (Image - Stockport Heritage Trust)

In 1850, Stockport Corporation bought the manorial rights for the sum of £22,500, acquired some of the property around the Market Place and set about improving the area. The following year, the Council's magnificent market hall, later known as the Produce Hall, or Hen Market, was built on the site of the ancient Post Office.

At the opening ceremony, the mayor decried Lord Vernon's nearby market house as an 'unsightly piece of deformity'. That same year, the said 'piece of deformity' was razed, and the Market Place reverted to being an open space. A decade later, the market traders were asking for the area to be covered, as their income suffered during inclement weather. Mindful of the fact that revenue from the market tolls dropped in direct proportion to that of the traders, the Corporation complied, and invited designs and cost estimates for a new market house.

The successful tender, entailing a design reflected by Manchester's Shudehill Market Hall, was submitted by James Haywood of the Phoenix Foundry & Engineering Works at Derby.

Market place seen in around 1810 (Image - Stockport Heritage Trust)

The resultant magnificent Victorian edifice of iron and timber sported nine bays, their upper parts glazed and each bay surmounted with a gable. It was, like its ill-fated predecessor, open at the sides - but by 1894, the Corporation began to enclose the lower part of the market house, then referred to affectionately as 'The Glass Umbrella', completing the work in 1910.

The next significant alteration came in 1912, when the westernmost bay, opposite the Produce Hall, was removed to enable the trolley bus to negotiate the route through the Market Place from St Petersgate to Offerton.

In the 1960-70s, there were plans to redevelop the Market Place. Amounting to little more than complete destruction of the area and many of its historic buildings, the plans sank under the weight of opposition. The threat of the bulldozer loomed large again in the 1980s but the planned demolition again sparked such public outrage that the Market House, now more generally known as the Market Hall, was instead extensively repaired and restored.

Further restoration work was carried out in 2008, its completion being celebrated by a two-day extravaganza of music, dancing, swing boats and games, all in a Victorian theme. Today, this splendid building is still the hub of the Market Place & continues to be a major attraction for shoppers. Long may that continue.

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Those interested in learning more about Stockport's heritage can visit the heritage centre Tuesday 11am – 2pm and Saturday 10.30 – 2pm. The centre is situated inside St. Mary's Parish Church, Market Place, on the left hand side past the cafe. 

The heritage trust also opens the former courthouse and dungeon to the public on the second Saturday of every month, from 10.30am until 3.30pm, or when the last visitor leaves.

The trust's website can be found HERE

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