Look Around Fleetwood Market

Look around Fleetwood Market – it’s a large traditional Victorian market hall, packed with all kinds of stalls. Events and activities also take place here throughout the year.

Look Around Fleetwood Market

From Lord Street in the town centre you’ll find the market near to the pretty landmark of the Rowntree Clock.

You’ll spot this a few metres east of St Peter’s Church at Albert Square – the junction of North Albert and Lord Streets, Adelaide and Albert Streets. The clock stands in a little traffic island, decorated throughout the year with flowers for Fleetwood In Bloom. It’s also known as the Four Faced Liar! The clock is in honour of Margaret Elizabeth Rowntree, the first woman Mayor and Alderman on Fleetwood – and also a noted poet.

Head off another 50m-or-so east from here to Fleetwood Market – it fills the block between Adelaide and Albert Street. From the seafront you’ll find it where Dock Street meets Queen’s Terrace.

Details for Fleetwood Market

• The address is Fleetwood Market, 26 Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6AD. Tel: 01253 887650
• Closed on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday – otherwise open 9am-4.30pm
• Dog friendly and cash machine on site
• Adjacent to car parking at Custom House Lane. Close to the Blackpool Transport tramway and bus stops

What will you find at Fleetwood Market?

Today’s visitor to Fleetwood Market will find a mixture of indoor and outdoor stalls arranged in a traditional town market. There’s about 250 stalls – mostly inside out of the weather and comfortable to visit at any time of the year! There’s also a few stalls in the outdoor courtyard area adjacent to Victoria Street and Custom House Lane car park.

The market is in the heritage area of Fleetwood, close to Fleetwood Museum which is just along the seafront at Queen’s Terrace. There are entrances at Victoria Street at the northern side and at Adelaide Street at the south side.

Stalls inside sell just about everything you can think of. There’s food, fruit and vegetables. Jewellery and clothing for men, women and children. Household goods, haberdashery, bedding and gifts. Tools and DIY and a fantastic wool/crafts stall.

Street food stalls surround the outdoor courtyard at Victoria Street, forming a pleasant space to sit awhile for a rest and a bite to eat. Inside there’s the traditional market cafe and other food stalls where you can catch a brew.

There’s also the newly renovated Market House Studios with commercial gallery space, an accessible studio and community studios.

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In the Area

You might have used Custom House Lane car park when you’ve visited the market. In which case you could have walked through the new, attractive Custom House Square pocket park. It’s been recently created to form an attractive and welcoming space between the market and car park.

And it’s not the only green space in the area – turn left as you leave the Victoria Street doors of the market and you’ll soon arrive at the Pocket Park. Opposite it is the library – both are on North Albert Street where the Blackpool to Fleetwood tramway runs. Left again takes you to Lord Street and the town centre shops.

The ‘seasidey’ bit of Fleetwood seafront isn’t far from the market either. The Esplanade, Ferry Beach and Euston Gardens are a 10-15 minute walk away from the market. Follow Dock Street/Queen’s Terrace at the seafront or head right along North Albert Street, following the tramway. Enjoy free seafront parking, fabulous views and great seaside fish and chips at The Ferry Cafe!

Fleetwood Market in the Past

MANY THANKS once again to Nick Moore and his fascinating History of Blackpool and the Fylde for the following historical information.

Way back in 1253 King Henry III granted a Market Charter to Rossall. Evidence points to Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood having used this charter to justify his opening of Fleetwood Market.

Sir Peter and Lady Hesketh Fleetwood opened Fleetwood’s open market on 7 November 1840 on what would become Adelaide Street. “The original market area was bound with a stone wall, with wooden access gates at each end. In the middle of the open area, was a basic wooden building with a slate roof – providing shelter for the stalls. From which local people sold farm produce, and traders from Manchester sold textiles and clothing”.

A replacement Fleetwood Market Hall opened in 1844 and on 2 April 1868 a cattle market opened next door. With 16 metal pens it was built to sell young Irish cattle, which were previously sold at Preston.

Becoming a Local Authority Asset

In 1890, the Local Authority bought the market, land and slaughterhouse rights from the Commissioners for £6,750. Then in 1892 a market hall to hold 94 stalls was built of fine Longridge stone. There was now a large open area to the east. The market also had offices and the superintendent’s living accommodation. For a while it rivalled Blackpool’s own indoor markets.

The market became covered in 1933 with the completion of the current stone building. The Cheese Stall opened in 1952 – now the longest standing stall.

In the 1960’s the market extension was revamped and the old Presburn’s Stores buildings and others were demolished. The extension, known locally as the ‘birdcage’ was added in 1975 when the old semi-outdoor market, known as the ‘desert’ was demolished. It was again enlarged in 1990 with a single storey brick extension into a large space between Adelaide and Victoria Streets. By now the market had over 250 stalls.

• Follow this link for the story of how Fleetwood began and grew – it’s a fascinating one with many twists and turns.