Cardiff Market

Summary

Cardiff Market (Welsh: Marchnad Caerdydd), also known as Cardiff Central Market (Welsh: Marchnad Ganolog Caerdydd) and as the Market Building, is a Victorian indoor market in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff city centre, capital city of Wales.

Cardiff Market
Trinity Street entrance to Cardiff Market
LocationCardiff city centre
Coordinates51°28′48″N 3°10′43″W / 51.4801°N 3.1787°W / 51.4801; -3.1787
AddressCardiff Market, St Mary Street, Cardiff
Opening dateMay 1891; 132 years ago (1891-05)
OwnerCardiff Council
ArchitectWilliam Harpur
Websitecardiff.gov.uk
Grade II* listed building

Background edit

 
Inside Cardiff Market from the 1st floor

Originally the site of Cardiff gaol, the gallows were located on the site of the current St. Mary Street entrance, where Dic Penderyn was hanged on 13 August 1831.

The market was designed by the Borough Surveyor, William Harpur, and opened in May 1891.[1] A farmers' market is known to have existed at the site since the 18th century.

 
 
St Mary Street entrance to Cardiff Market

The market consists of two shopping levels, a ground floor and a balcony level which wraps around the market exterior walls on the interior. Entrances to the market are located at St. Mary Street, Trinity Street and from an alleyway off Church Street.

A large H. Samuel clock has hung above the High Street entrance since 1910. The current clock dates from 1963 (by Smith of Derby) and was restored at a cost of £25,000 in 2011.[2][3]

Since 1975 the building has been listed and is currently Grade II*.[4]

Stallholders edit

 
Ashton's

Traders in the market offer a variety of fresh produce, cooked food, various delicacies and more durable goods.

A trader of note is Ashton's the fishmongers, who claim to have traded in the market since 1866[5] at the Trinity Street entrance selling a wide range of fresh seafood. In 2012 they hit the headlines when they sold meat from a 20 foot long 550 lb thresher shark.[6]

Another longstanding trader is The Market Deli, a small, family-run business trading for over 100 years, located at the same stall since 1928.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Cardiff: the building of a capital". Glamorgan Record Office. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Cardiff landmark clock in St Mary Street to be restored". BBC News. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Geograph:: Entrance to Cardiff Market © D Williams cc-by-sa/2.0".
  4. ^ Cardiff Central Market, Castle, BritishListedBuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  5. ^ "1900s". History. Cardiff Market website. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Thresher shark sale defended by Cardiff fishmonger". BBC News. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  7. ^ "The History Of The Market Deli". Market Deli website. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2013.

External links edit

  • Cardiff Market (official site)
  • Cardiff Market (Cardiff Council site)