St George's Market facts for kids
.JPG)
St George's Market is a famous covered market in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It's the last market of its kind from the Victorian era. You can find it on May Street, near the River Lagan and the Waterfront Hall.
The building was ordered by Belfast Corporation (which is now called Belfast City Council). It was built in three stages between 1890 and 1896. Before 1890, St George's Market was an open-air market. It probably had a place for preparing meat back then. Today, it's a busy market with about 300 sellers. You can find crafters, musicians, and lots of food vendors there.
Contents
Building the Market
The market that existed before 1890 was smaller than the building we see today. A city surveyor named JC Bretland designed the new market. He was also involved in fixing the Albert Bridge after it collapsed.
The market building is made of red brick with sandstone decorations. On the outside, it has Roman-style arches. These arches have special messages in Latin and Irish. The Latin motto, "Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus", means "what shall we give in return for so much?" The Irish phrase, "Lámh Dearg na hÉireann", means "Red Hand of Ireland". The main entrance arch shows the Belfast Coat of Arms. This new covered market first opened its doors to the public on June 20, 1890.
Market During World War II
During World War II, Belfast was heavily bombed by German planes. This event is known as the Belfast Blitz. After these bombings, St George's Market was used as a temporary place to help identify people who had died. Many people were killed during the raids. The market became a central point where families could try to find their loved ones.
Sadly, not everyone could be identified. So, a public funeral was held on April 21, 1941, for those who remained unknown. Separate services were held for Catholic and Protestant people at the market. Thousands of people lined the streets as the funeral procession went to the cemeteries. This showed how important the market was to the community during a very difficult time.
Market Life Since 1980
By the 1980s, St George's Market had become a general market. It was the last of Belfast's old Victorian markets still going strong. The market faced problems like high repair costs and new hygiene rules. Because of these issues, Belfast City Council thought about using the historic building for other things.
However, a big effort by the City Council, market sellers, and the public saved it. They got help from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a £3.5 million renovation project. The Environment and Heritage Agency also helped. Old brick and stonework were fixed, and special bricks were made in England to match the original ones. The fully repaired St George's Market reopened on May 14, 1999.
Today, St George's Market is mainly used as a market. But it also hosts many other events. These include food festivals, art shows, exhibitions, charity events, fashion shoots, and live music. Even local companies use it for their parties!
The market has won several awards. In 2014, it was named Best Large Indoor Market. In 2006, it was one of the UK's top five markets by the National Association of British Market Authorities. It also won third place in the best markets category of the Observer Food Monthly/Waitrose Awards in 2004.
Music and Events Venue
St George's Market is also a popular place for music concerts. Famous artists like Duffy, Newton Faulkner, Deep Purple, Kasabian, Biffy Clyro, and Mark Ronson have performed there.
In March and April 2012, the market was one of the main stages for the World Irish Dancing Championships. This big event also used the Belfast Waterfront Theatre.
See also
In Spanish: Mercado de St George para niños
