Covered Market, Oxford facts for kids
The Covered Market is a very old and famous market in the heart of Oxford, England. It's a special place with many shops and stalls all under one big roof. People have been coming here for hundreds of years to buy all sorts of things!
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Where is the Covered Market?
You can find the Covered Market right in the middle of Oxford. It's just north of the busy High Street. You can also get there from Cornmarket Street and Turl Street. On its north side is Market Street.
There are lots of ways to get inside! You'll find four entrances from the High Street and four more from Market Street. You can even walk through a small alley called Golden Cross from Cornmarket Street to reach it. This alley has some fancy shops too!
A Look Back in Time: The Market's History
The Covered Market officially opened its doors on November 1, 1774. It's been open ever since! Before it was built, many street vendors sold their goods right on Oxford's main streets. This made the streets look a bit messy and crowded. So, people wanted a better, tidier place for selling things.
John Gwynn, who also designed the famous Magdalen Bridge in Oxford, drew up the plans for the market. He designed the High Street side with its four entrances. In 1772, a special committee decided to build twenty butchers' shops first. This cost about nine hundred and sixteen pounds.
Soon after, twenty more shops were added. By 1773, all meat had to be sold inside the market. From these first butcher shops, the market grew. Soon, you could find stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, pork, dairy products, and fish.
The Covered Market Today
Today, the Covered Market is still a busy place full of different shops. About half of the shops sell food. You can find greengrocers with fresh produce and butchers selling meat, including the special Oxford sausage.
But it's not just food! There are also shops selling gifts, delicious baked goods, and tasty sandwiches. Many of the shops are bigger now than the original small stalls. This means there are fewer businesses in total, but each one has more space.
You can still enter the market from the four entrances on the High Street. You can also use the Golden Cross alley from Cornmarket Street, or one of the three entrances on Market Street.
In 2017, the Oxford City Council, which owns the market, decided to invest £1.6 million to improve the building. This included fixing the roof, making the public restrooms better, improving the outside paths, and adding new signs.
Also in May 2017, the market received a special visit from Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. This was a big honor for the historic market!
Gallery
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The Covered Market from the High Street looking towards All Saints Church
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A fish store in the market
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A fruit stand in the market
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A butcher in the market
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Ben's Cookies in the market
