Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History The Haymarket

The Haymarket (Big Market Building )

This was down beside the Land registry buildings are today.
Just to the left of the Queensway Tunnel Entrance.

Pictures Information anyone

There was a market on this site since 1835 when the then market was deystroyed by fire in 1974.The original clock from the old market is all that was saved and has been restored and is now in the new market

OLD MARKET /LAND REGISTRY SITE

cool thats the location

Hi. Jonno, that link's not working for me, so I don't know what it showed. Hope this doesn't duplicate it. The reason for this post is to say we mustn't confuse the Market Hall with the Haymarket. As far as I know, the Haymarket was always open-air & for doing exactly what the name implies; buying & selling hay. I remember the old market hall very well, built of cast iron & with a double arched glass roof, if I remember correctly. The map shows the relative locations.

Cheers, Chris.

Nice one Chris

Humm hopefully the link will come back.

So Market Square = Click Me

And the "Market" = Click Me

This is my best estimate of the locations on today's street layout. This market was BIG. On Saturdays, there would be stalls on the market square. It was fun to be there & watch the sellers of crockery . They were very skilful & could balance a whole dinner service on their arms. At about 8pm, they would start their final spiel "Well, I'm not taking this lot back, buy it or I'll smash it." then they would throw down a few plates to break on the cobblestones. The people couldn't stand to see this & started buying stuff.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=53.392142,-3.015463&spn=0.001481,0.002886&t=h&z=18&msid=102226494235577172925.000449aacc62eeec6577e

Spot on

Would be good if any one had any stories about the place

I've got just a couple of pics I need to scan in. Will probably do it tomorrow.

Here's something interesting. The map I posted earlier was from 1911. Some time between then & the 1940's, when I remember the market, Market St.West, the bank, the Free Library & the other buildings disappeared. I'm absolutely sure that the market fronted onto Hamilton St. Some investigation is called for.

Here's a couple of pics of the market. In the tunnel entrance one, it's the big long building in the background. The other is one of the stalls.
I can still remember the smell of the place, especially the stall where we used to buy treacle toffee. It came in slabs & you broke it up at home with the toffee hammer. I've still got that hammer.

Oh, & just in case you think I'm joking about the toffee hammer.

ha ha ha quality chris, how old is that hammer now lol...

The picture inside the Market looks great, it almost looks
like an old railway station with the high roof etc..


This one needs a little explaining for me?


First it looks like one hell of a building,
but i'm confused about the tunnel, they moved that needle
thing with the light on it? Didn't they?

Is the camera angle from the entrance of the Tunnel?


Great Pics Chris, your a true Sherlock

Joseph Paxton designed the original market to the same but scaled down design as Crystal Palace. The next time you are in the new market you will notice that the aisles are named after famous people from Birkenheads past and there are plaques informing you of there roles in the towns development.Some of the names featured are ,Laird,Jackson and Paxton

That hammer is at least 70 years old, probably much more.

As far as the pic is concerned, it's from Chester St. with the tunnel mouth to your right. Have a look in the Queensway book I sold you. Opposite Page 73 is a sketch which shows the tunnel entrance & the market hall.

Cheers, Chris.