The Market Hall, Bolton, Lancashire (UK).

Bolton Market Hall was built in 1855 to the designs of G.T.Robinson.  The building consisted of a cast iron and glass structure, using the technology of Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace, wrapped in Classical brick masonry. Timber shop fronts, inserted in the walls later in the century, have diminished the monumental effect of the south and west elevations; the east facade still displays powerful blind arcading. On the west side, facing Knowsley Street, is a hexastyle Corinthian portico, the central entrances to the south and east have pediments supported on Doric pilasters.

For over 150 years the interior has been a single space occupied by small stalls selling a variety of wares. The meat and fish stalls were moved to a new building across town in the early twentieth century. In the nineteenth century it would have been possible to purchase live animals in the market. In the late 1980s the stalls were upgraded and a post-modern shopping mall was grafted onto the north side.

In 2006 the stall holders were given notice to quit. The Market Hall opened for its original purpose for the last time on 13 January 2007. The interior is now to be divided into a number of large retail units - quite how this will be achieved and how much of the old structure will survive remains to be seen. The accompanying photographs record the old interior on its last day.