The Old Market

The Old Market. . , The Old Market Hall , Historically Rotherham has always had an active street market and in 1878, after several years of debate within the 'Corporation' a market hall was constructed on the site of the former Corn Exchange. Architects Messrs Hill and Swarm produced numerous designs before final approval was given by the Markets Committee. Minutes of meetings at the time stated that the hall should cost no more than £8,000 with the stipulation that stone from the demolished Corn Exchange should be reused to reduce the building costs., During elections for the new Parliamentary Division of Rotherham in 1885 a public riot broke out at the close of the polls. Rioters smashed the windows of the committee rooms of the Conservative candidate Major Hoole and, when forced back by the police, the crowd turned upon the market hall and destroyed the corner of the building and a number of shop fronts., Further misfortune followed in 1838 when the market hall burnt down. The cause of the fire was never discovered. The following year it was rebuilt., The rebuilt market hall was a bustling place with trading taking place late into the evening. However it was its popularity and the lack of space to expand the market onto Corporation Street which brought about its demise. The need for a larger market hall resulted in the construction of Centenary Market at the opposite side of the town centre. The market hall conducted its final day of trading on Monday 22nd March, 1971, and by 1973 the building had been demolished., The Market Hall Fire of 1888 , On Saturday 21st January, 1888, a fire broke out in the market hall. The alarm was raised by Fred Silvester and Samuel Elliott at around midnight. Market traders working late tried to put out the fire but when their efforts proved futile they turned their attention to salvaging as much stock as possible., Large crowds gathered to watch the fire and it was reported that the burning building could be seen as far away as Rawmersh Hill. Alderman Gummer watched the fire and subsequently described in his “Reminiscences of Rotherham” that when the fire brigade arrived to tackle the fire they were hindered as the nearest water supply had been turned off. The manager of the local water board was swiftly rallied from his bed to turn it back on., The cause of the fire was never discovered., Following the fire it was revealed that the hall was insured for only £800. This was not enough to cover the building and financial losses incurred. In its defence the 'Corporation' explained that when the market hall was first erected it was merely a covered market built off iron girders and pillars. Unfortunately, following the addition of shops to the perimeter of the hall, the insurance cover had not been re-calculated or increased. As a result of the fire at the market hall the 'Corporation' reviewed all of its building insurance policies., Photograph captions , This photograph was taken between 1879 and 1888 and shows Schooles small ware shop. The photograph was token in the original market building before fire destroyed it in 1888. Mathew Schooles lost his entire stock of fancy goods in the fire., This photograph was taken in 1962 and shows Stockdale Grocers. Stockdole traded in the old market hall for a number of years and was one of the many stall holders who successfully moved their business in to the new Centenary Market., This photograph shows the site where the market hall once stood with Imperial Building and Westgate Chambers in the foreground. During redevelopment works in 2007 the original foundation stones of the market hall were uncovered and have now been re-used as seating blocks within Minster Gardens., Four decorative stone griffins were mounted at roof level around the old market hall building. Two of these griffins can still be seer in the town centre one in the atrium of Imperial Building and the other in the Town Hall garden., This photograph was taken in 1965 and shows the Corporation's corporate seal above the date plate for the market hall. Strangely there is evidence to suggest that the original hall was not erected until 1878/9 and therefore the date of 1877 on the photograph is inaccurate., This photograph was taken between 1904 and 1907 and shows the old market hall with the Sheffield Banking Company (latterly NatWest Bank) in the background. Bingham's grocers shop seen here continued to trade until 1951., This photograph was taken in 1971 and shows the old market hall with the National Provincial Bank (latterly NatWest Bank) in the background. Trading at the market hall ceased on Monday 22 March 1971. Trading at the new Centenary Market commenced on Saturday 27th March, 1971.