Grainger Market

History of the Grainger Market

The Grainger Market is the city's largest traditional, covered market in the heart of Newcastle. Opened in 1835, you will find it in the Grainger Town area of the city, in the purpose- built, elegant and clasically styled, Grade I listed building. At the time of its opening it was teh largest in Europe, being described by the evening Chronicle as being "the most magnificent in the world".

The Market was a key part in the redevelopment of Newcastle of Newcastle by developer Richard Grainger and his architect John Dobson.  Richard Grainger was said to "have found Newcastle of bricks and timber and left it in stone, stone that still stands today".

The grainger Market was originally split into two sections with the main market being the flesh or butchers' market and the timber roofed arcade lost its original roof in a fire and was replaced by the current latticed-steel glazed roof (reminicent of a railway station) and re-opened in 1901.

Hidden within the market (alley 3) is "Marks and Spencers Original Penny Bazzar", the worlds oldest and smallest Marks and Spencer store which opened in 1895.

The market survived fires and two world wars (air raid shelters still exist beneath the arcade) and many original features remain today inclusing the weighhouse whcih is continued to restore and protected.