The Market

The Market building, primarily an entrance and covered extension, was constructed in phases between 1744-45 and 1848-49, with renovations in 1883. Samuel Glascodine designed the initial entrance, while RS Pope was responsible for the later covered extension. The building is constructed of limestone ashlar with a glazed roof over the main market area.

The building features an axial plan with a 19th-century open-plan, aisled extension to the south, facing St Nicholas Street. The entrance facade on the High Street is of a mid-Georgian style. It is two storeys high with a three-window range, exhibiting a symmetrical design, mirrored on the rear elevation. The central section projects forward, topped with a pediment, and contains a semicircular-arched carriageway. Architectural details include an impost band, a plat band, a first-floor sill band, a cornice, and a parapet. Small semicircular-arched doorways flank the carriageway, now with 20th-century glazing, beneath a Venetian window with Doric pilasters. The window openings have architraves and 6-pane sashes. A carved City shield is located in the tympanum. A groin-vaulted passage, with octagonal Portland bollards, leads through to the market area.

The interior is divided into two sections: the Glass Arcade and the West Arcade. The north walls adjoin The Rummer Public House and the Exchange. The south walls are characterized by ground-floor arcades of semicircular arches, including eight windows on the east side, and a blank arcade above containing 6/6-pane sashes. The right-hand return has two restored bow windows and paired semicircular-arched doorways, sheltered by a wrought-iron canopy and brackets. The west side features nine arches with a matching first-floor arcade, incorporating a plain inner arch and cornice. A glazed 19th-century roof is supported by iron trusses with decorative curves and brackets. Timber stalls line both sides, featuring pilaster strips to a cornice and parapet, and folding doors.

The 19th-century South Arcade extension, facing St Nicholas Street, is single-story and seven windows wide, incorporating a trapezium shape with curved corners, an impost band, a cornice, and a parapet raised in the middle. Semicircular-arched openings have keyed moulded archivolts throughout. The St Nicholas Street front includes a tall central entrance with iron gates, windows on either side, and two lunettes at each end. Matching returns of seven windows on the right and four windows on the left are also present.

The interior of the south extension is characterized by square piers supporting a 20th-century steel-trussed roof with wooden stalls. The market was built after the completion of Wood's Exchange, and only the archway is confirmed as being part of the original 1744-45 design. Stall numbers are consecutive, ranging from 1 to 50 across the various arcades.