Bolton Market Hall

A Heritage Statement was prepared to support design proposals for changes to the listed Victorian market building, which included converting the basement vaults into retail or restaurant spaces. The 1980s “Market Place” shopping centre to the north is connected to the 1851 “Market Hall” through a circular atrium. The Market Hall remains a lively, functioning market today.

In the early 2000s, the Market Place was extended into the Market Hall, spanning two levels, with the atrium both linking and dividing the two spaces. English Heritage viewed this extension as an unsatisfactory intervention, as it disrupted the sense of space and the dual axes of the original Market Hall. Beneath the Market Hall lie the neglected 19th-century brick vaults, originally built as storage for the market above. The primary impacts we were asked to assess were the opening up and integration of these vaults into the building.

We supported a design that respected the historical integrity of the structure, allowing the historic narrative to continue with minimal impact on the building’s significance. The design also offered a more practical use for the space while preserving the building’s character. Consent was granted on the condition that the works would not harm the building’s special interest, enabling a greater appreciation of its history in the modern context.