Pontefract - Market Place

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Pontefract Market Place was established under a number of royal charters, the First charter being granted in 1194 and a charter in 1484 granted and confirmed the Mayor of the Authority of Pontefract that they and their successors may have in the Authority or Borough one market to be held on every seventh day forever on every Saturday.

The original Market Hall was built as a meat market in 1859 and was opened by Lord Palmerston in 1860. It was a large impressive building as can

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Pontefract Market Place remains pretty much the same today as it was in years gone by, only the 'shoppers' change

be seen from old photographs and in evidence of the stone façade, which still stands today. The Market Hall was rebuilt following a fire and was reopened in 1957.

The whole of the original building was destroyed in the fire except for the stone façade, which is on Market Street. The building behind was rebuilt using a concrete portal frame with the roof clad in cement sheets with patent glazing to allow natural light through to the central floor area.

The original stone façade has been altered possibly during rebuilding after the fire. The pediment and balastrading at either side of the central stone arch was taken down.

This pedestal may have been removed for safety reasons, as the new building would not give adequate support to the stonework. The three large louvre windows were also removed and filled in with rendered brickwork to suit the smaller new Market Hall.

The town centre of Pontefract was extensively refurbished during 1999. This work included several buildings one of which was the Market Hall. The Heritage Lottery Fund with English Heritage agreed to the Market Hall façade being restored to its former impressive and imposing status on the Market Street skyline.
The stone pediment and balustrading was reinstated including the two stone urns. The new pediment is supported by two steel columns, which required the removal of the existing roof coverings. The façade was further enhanced with louvre windows and the re-creation of the large lantern light over the central entrance doors.

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The ornate stonework can still be clearly seen today

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2008 - Pontefract is still very much a 'Bustling Market Town'

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