Chester market in the 1870s

[mikestout]

My great great grandfather Michael Stout was a fisherman in Chester.  He also had stall no 3 in Chester market, selling salmon and other fresh fish.  I have this information in an advert from the Cheshire Observer dated 5th Aug 1876.  I understand that the market replaced an earlier one in 1865 and was in operation until 1967 when it was demolished.  I would like to learn more about this market, particularly around 1876 when my relative had his stall there.

[nanny jan]

Welcome to Rootschat!

The local archives might be a good place to contact:

https://www.cheshirearchives.org.uk/home.aspx

[Ruskie]

Welcome to rootschat Mike. 

This might be the location of the market:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=19&lat=53.19146&lon=-2.89254&layers=168&right=ESRIWorld

(you can zoom in and out and scroll around the map)

It looks to be "The Forum" shopping centre today, though there is still a "Chester market" sign on the front.

Some horrible things were allowed to be built inside the city walls in the 60s so it doesn't surprise me to hear the old market was demolished then. 

If you search "Chester Market" or "Chester market hall" there are quite a few old images which may be of interest.

[mikestout]

I am certainly going to ask about it at the records office once we are able to go there again.  The map you show is correct the new market is not too far from the old one.

[Jo Harding]

There are some lovely old photos of the market here:

https://chesterwalls.info/gallery/market.html

This gives an excellent account of the changes that occurred over the years as well. As someone who lived in and around Chester for 30 years I can tell you that the Cestrians always said the old market was missed very much. That the new one was never as good.

Jo

[mikestout]

Thank you Jo

[Gadget]

Not really relevant but I used to go there quite often when we went to Chester in the 1950s. I think that there was a cafe opposite it  that we went to, on the corner of  Northgate Street. I remember walking around the market with my mother and aunty who  bought 'boring' things 

Gadget

PS - that's a really interesting account, Jo.  Thank you