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Covered Market (Oxford)


 Covered Market (Oxford) Sightseeing National

Covered Market (Oxford)

 
Description: The Covered Market was started in response to a general wish to clear untidy, mess and unsavoury stalls from the main ... more
Covered Market (Oxford) ... streets. John Gwynn architect of Magdalen Bridge, drew up the plans and designed the High Street front with its four entrances. In 1772 the newly-formed Market committee (half of whose members came from the town and half from the university) accepted an estimate of nine hundred and sixteen pounds ten shillings, for building twenty butchers shops. Twenty more soon followed and after 1773 meat was only allowed to be sold inside the market. From this nucleus the market grew, with stalls for garden produce, pig meat, dairy products and fish. The earliest stalls were in colonnaded blocks: the high-raftered roofs of today are the outcome of nineteenth century rebuilding. Some stalls are used as single units but many traders have expanded their businesses and taken over several tenancies. Today you can still buy a great selection of meat and fish here, and numerous cheeses, but the scope of trading has enlarged since the early days. Fruit and vegetable stalls still make colourful displays but much of the produce is now imported from all over the world. You will find all sorts of goods, clothes, records, pine furniture and much, much, more. As with many a market, its smells are part of the atmosphere. It may be the smell of fresh ground coffee that draws you in for refreshment, but it could be the attractive displays of the tenants, flowers, fruit, and so on that prompts you to look for the unexpected or special gift. If the spice of life is variety, then it will be seen here.

Newest Review: ... of history associated with it & has been open since 1774. It was setup in order to clear up the streets of the various market stalls which existed, & it has been open ever since. The place contains market stalls as well as small independent stores selling distinctive products different from what's on offer on the main shopping streets. As well as buying fruit, veg & meat from the ... more

 ... various butchers, you can also find clothes, shoes & many other products for sale. One of my favourite outlets is a smoothie place which makes delicious fresh fruit smoothies, very taste & great value. I just love going for a wonder round...more

djkunal
Premium Review Covered Market (Oxford): Unique indoor market (225 words)
by - written on 19/09/09 (Very useful, 44 readings)
Rating:

Located in the centre of Oxford just off the busy Cornmarket Street, the Covered Market is just what it says on the tin, an indoor market. Although this is also slightly misleading as calling it that doesn't really do it justice. The market has alot of history associated with it & has been open since 1774. It was setup in order to clear up the streets of the various market stalls which existed, & it has been open ever since. The place contains market stalls as well as small independent stores selling distinctive products different from what's on offer on the main shopping streets. As well as buying fruit, veg & meat from the various ...  Read the complete review

kirlykird
Premium Review A great place to shop within a traditional area (872 words)
by - written on 28/01/09 (Very useful, 128 readings)
Rating:

The covered market is one of the most famous shopping areas of Oxford city and has been trading since the seventeen hundreds. It was originally an outside market, however, it was decided that the market looked too messy and that it needed to be housed. The individual commissioned to take on the design work was John Gwynn, the architect of the famous Magdalen Bridge. The building was designed and it still stands today with some alterations such as the high-raftered roofs which are the outcome of nineteenth century rebuilding. The market now mainly houses small shops and boutiques rather than market stalls. * The shops* I love to visit the covered ...  Read the complete review

zebra
Crowned Review Covered Market (Oxford): Shopping - The Old Fashioned Way (1966 words)
by - written on 05/09/02 (Very useful, 5667 readings)
Rating:

The covered Market is a Victorian shopping area in the centre of Oxford. It can be accessed from the High St., Market St., or through the Golden Cross Arcade in Cornmarket St. It was originally established in the 16th century in order to remove the 'untidy mess and unsavoury stalls' from the Oxford streets. Originally it housed only butcher's shops but eventually had a variety of food stalls. The market has changed quite dramatically in recent years. It used to house almost only food shops, the majority supplying the kitchens of the University colleges but in more recent years many of the traditional shops have given way to a variety of ...  Read the complete review

Alan+Rice
Premium Review One of the joys of life in Oxford (302 words)
by - written on 01/06/01 (Very useful, 102 readings)
Rating:

It is a sad consequence of the advance of large supermarkets that local markets have almost disappeared from life in England. True, there are some left, but they are rare. What a delight that one of these exceptions is in the centre of Oxford, a city whose centre is otherwise suprisingly poorly served by food shops- a very small and unattractive Sainsbury's and an even worse Asda that is more akin to Russian supermarket than anythig one might hope to find in 21st century Britain. The covered market is home to about two dozen shops, the vast majority of which sell food. There is also a cobbler, a rather meagerly stocked second-hand bookshop and some ...  Read the complete review

S
Premium Review Covered Market (Oxford): Oxford Covered Market (105 words)
by - written on 18/07/00 (Useful, 83 readings)
Rating:

One of Oxford’s historic shopping areas located off the main street. A strange collection of little shops selling things such as clothes, shoes, jewellery, flowers, arts and craft goods etc. As well as sandwich shops, bakeries and unfortunately butchers. You cannot escape the nauseating smell of the meat that is hanging out side of the shops. It really ruins what could be quite a nice area to shop and puts people off of exploring the market. However, if you can mange to stomach the smell it is worth wandering around, you will be quite surprised by what you might find. ...  Read the complete review

 

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Covered Market (Oxford)