Borough Market, Halifax

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Borough Market is a Victorian covered market in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. It sits in the town centre, between Southgate, Market Street and Albion Street. Built between 1891 and 1896, it was opened by the future King George V and Queen Mary.

The market is a glass and wrought‑iron canopy over stone shops and living quarters. When it first opened, Market Street had three pubs, Albion Street had fishmongers, and the other exterior shops were butcher shops. The site had previously been home to a red brick market from 1790. Street trading had been controlled by Acts in 1810 and 1853, which allowed Halifax to buy the market out of private ownership.

Architects Joseph and John Leeming designed the new market. Halifax borrowed £50,000 for it, but the final cost rose to £130,000, over budget. The market officially opened on 25 July 1896 by the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George V and Queen Mary.

The market’s layout is notable for a central octagonal lantern about 18 metres high, supported by decorative cast‑iron columns. There are four glass‑roofed quarters and solid roofing above the passages. The flagstones came from Solomon Marshall’s quarry (now Marshalls plc), and the site slopes so visitors don’t need steps to move around.

Originally the complex had 43 outward‑facing shops, mostly butcher shops, with Albion Street housing a fish market and Market Street hosting three pubs: the Wheatsheaf (later renamed the Portman and Pickles), the Saddle, and the Peacock. The Portman and Pickles pub was named after Eric Portman and Wilfred Pickles. At the centre stood the market’s tall lantern and a clock that was once visible from many parts of the hall.

In 1973 the stonework was cleaned and Southgate was turned into a pedestrian area. In 1987 the Civic Trust gave the market an award for its renovated Victorian shop fronts. The central clock was refurbished in 1993 with gold leaf. A 1995 Halifax planning study suggested moving the fishmongers inside the market to improve appearance and rental income.

Today the market covers about 5,850 square metres under the glass canopy and remains a Grade II* listed building. It hosts around 125 stalls and continues to operate six days a week. Borough Market has been recognised as one of the area’s great markets, and its 1996 centenary was celebrated during Great British Market Week.