Former Wholesale Fish Market, High Street

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 7 Jan 2016

During the nineteenth century, the area now known as the Northern Quarter was dominated by the Smithfield Market. This first appeared on the map in 1844, when the stalls which would become the Smithfield Market began to pop up in the Shudehill area. The Smithfield Fish and Poultry Market was opened in 1873 on Oak Street. At the height of its success, in 1953, Smithfield Market dominated the site bounded by Shudehill, Swan Street, Oak Street and Thomas Street. It featured a market office, covered market, wholesale fish market, fish market office, and retail fish market. There were numerous warehouses dedicated to the storage of fruit and vegetables and on Blossom Street, in Ancoats, an ice plant for the preservation of produce. The former Wholesale Fish Market on High Street and Thomas Street consisted of a market hall which has since been since been redeveloped. The outside walls, gates and sculptures have been saved, along with some of the wrought iron internal columns walls; the remainder has been incorporated into a new residential complex The High Street (south) façade of the former market consists of 4 wide gables, each having a symmetrical 3-bay composition. It is notable for its central arches with wrought-iron gates and segmental lintels with inscriptions, and carved tympana depicting different episodes of a fishing voyage sculpted by Henry Bonehill (see Image It is a Grade II listed building (English Heritage Building ID: 388186 http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-388186-former-wholesale-fish-market-#.VpTSZ3nnknU British Listed Buildings)

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