Swindon's iconic tented market shuts up shop

By Claire Dukes

Swindon’s iconic tented market to see its last day of business tomorrow.

Just off Commercial Road, the long-standing tented market has been one of Swindon’s most well known landmarks, but as of tomorrow will see its last day of trade.

The market first moved to its current standing location in 1892, but it wasn’t always tented as we know it now.

Swindon’s first major market arrived in 1965, operating primarily as your local grocer with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, and not too dissimilar to some of the traditional Victorian markets around today.

As seems to be way, a few years after relocating to Commercial Road, the market was completely demolished in 1976 as a bid to reconstruct and recreate Swindon’s shopping centre.

In 1994 Swindon’s latest innovative idea became the ‘Tented Market’ we see today. The archetypal ‘fairground’ design is thought to be reminiscent of traditional attractions which were often featured on market days.

Once a thriving market full of trade including butchers, cafes, barbers, and clothing stalls, the facility now faces a potential new purpose entirely.

This year developers finally received the approval needed, from Swindon Borough Council, to start the planning of a new 11 storey construction. Although not finalised, developers are proposing to install a range of restaurants, shops and a café on the ground floor, and 95 flats amongst the remaining ten.

News of the closure has of course not come without cost, causing many businesses to either relocate or close altogether.

One of those visiting the market today was Swindon resident Geoff Bennett who said: “I came in to get my hair cut by the GodBarber but I found that they have moved from the site. I have to say that the whole place is looking pretty eerie now that most of the businesses have packed up and left. As someone who has lived in Swindon all my life, I remember the Old Victorian market building that was here before. It was a proper market full of life with fruit and veg stalls, a fishmongers and even a toy shop which was what I was really interested in at the time.

“When the new tented market building was built to replace it, I don’t think it really clicked with me. It was never as popular as the former market it was just a bit of a jumble.”

Market manager Nik Hayward, who has run the venue for seven years was overseeing the closure. He said: “The problem is that this building has never been a popular design since it was built in 1994. It was really cold in the winter and used to drip with condensation during the summer. It’s a shame for all the small businesses who have had to move out though.”

Tented residents have included Egg-E-Licious, Elephant Thai Café, Love Vinyl Record Store, The Incredible Comic Book Shop, and many more since its introduction.

Although Swindon does proceed to host a local Farmer’s Market at the Designer Outlet, the cherished nostalgia of Swindon’s market trade resides within its tented endowment.