The Old Market

The Old Market is a 2-storey market hall built in a simple classical style, constructed from coursed dressed stone and topped with a hipped slate roof that features a raised lantern in the central section, along with additional roof lights. The front facing Palace Street has three wide bays, with the central bay framed by plain pilasters and topped with a pediment. This central bay includes a doorway with an elliptical arch, highlighted by prominent voussoirs, a boarded tympanum, and double cast iron gates with dog bars and spear finials. To the right of the door, there is a cast iron crane above a basement trap door. The left-hand bay contains two arched doorways, both with voussoirs; the outer doorway has an inserted 6-pane sash window, while the inner doorway features double iron gates. The right-hand bay is similar, with iron gates on the inner arch and a blocked outer arch. A thin projecting band separates the two storeys. The upper storey has lunettes, some boarded and with replaced glazing. Below the sill of the central lunette is a slate tablet commemorating the building's opening.

The elevation facing Hole-in-the-Wall Street is similar but slightly narrower, with the outer bays each having a single arched doorway, both equipped with iron gates, while the central bay has an infilled doorway. The upper-storey lunettes on this side are barred.

The interior and roof reflect a later 19th-century remodelling. Stairs located on the southwest and northeast sides feature plain balusters. The upper storey gallery is supported by cast iron posts, with additional cast iron posts supporting the trusses above. The gallery front also has plain balusters and a handrail. The central portion of the roof consists of a 4-bay structure with a shallow pitch, incorporating king-post trusses with raking struts and brackets.