Celebrate 250 years of Oxford’s Covered Market with big birthday bash
Oxford’s historic Covered Market will celebrate 250 years of continuous trade with a big birthday bash on Friday 13 September from 7.30 pm.
It’s not every day a market gets to celebrate such a milestone so, as part of the year-long celebration, the Council has arranged a free party to honour the Market’s history and all the people that have been a part of it since it opened in 1774.
During the evening, guests can expect a variety of delights, including:
- actors in period dress walking avenues & acting scenes of market life
- an interactive trail for public in avenues with the actors
- live music through the ages in central square
- optional fancy dress (dress as your favourite period since 1774) with prize for the best
- period style photo booth/area
- a Lindy Hop dance taster session
- Market Memories recording booth
- interactive history tours of the market
- exclusive trader promos.
Tickets for the party are free, however, they must be booked in advance and are limited to two per booking. You can find ticket information here: wegottickets.com/event/627790
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Although records show the Covered Market opened in a way that we could recognise today in Winter 1774, the Council is celebrating the milestone in September to coincide with Oxford Preservation Trust’s Open Doors festival. This will allow residents and visitors to experience even more of Oxford’s history in one weekend.
There will be a smaller ceremonial event to mark the official anniversary date later in the year.
What to expect at the party
The Covered Market has always been a hub for local communities. Joining the traders for the evening the Council is proud to be bringing together local creative organisations and individuals to help make this a very special event.
Actors from Oxford Peoples Theatre will be strolling the market in period costume and leading a special interactive market trail.
Local artists will provide live music, reflecting evolving music styles since the market began.
These include early music performer Muses Kiss who has been commissioned to craft a set to reflect the music and instruments that would have been played at around the time of the market’s opening in 1774.
Local folk band Milady Clare’s Musicke will perform popular early folk songs and dances.
Steph Pirrie Trio will move into Jazz from the 1920s and ’30s alongsidee Lindy Hop taster sessions run by Oxford Lindy Hoppers.
There will be a photobooth hosted by local photographer Jason Fyrefly.
Local multi-media artist Charlie Henry, who created the Un-Covered Market audio tour, will be capturing anecdotes and stories from guests which will be added to the market’s archive which is soon to be launched on the Covered Market’s website.
Local Historian, Malcolm Graham, will lead two interactive history tours of the market.
History of the market
In 1771, the Oxford Improvement Act was passed and plans for a covered city market were proposed to bring disparate street traders under one roof and improve public health. A market committee was established, bringing City and University together, and John Gwynn, the architect for Magdalen Bridge, was appointed.
In Winter 1774, The Covered Market officially opened in a way that we could recognise today, albeit smaller and with timber stalls.
In the 1840s, there was a partial expansion of the market. During this expansion, the market transformed into its current form, and the Market Street entrances were added. The variety of traders also started to change.
Originally thought of as a meat market, throughout the 19th century fruit, vegetables, fish and cheese joined the traders. By the end of the 19th century, cafes, other eateries, and non-food outlets began to emerge.
In more recent years, the market has remained a much-loved part of the city. It survived a post-war proposal to knock it down and move it, and in March 2000 it was listed as grade II.
You can find more of the market’s history in local historian Malcolm Graham’s video or on the Council’s website.
Contact details
Email: pressoffice@oxford.gov.uk (Please note that any replies directly to this Press Release will go to an unmonitored inbox. Please contact email address provided)
Phone: 01865 252096
Images/extra media
Images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q1aec7k9zdvTggRyCNksc23DH9RBTmlf?usp=sharing
About us
Oxford City Council is the democratically-elected local authority for Oxford.
In partnership with others, we provide a wide range of services – including planning, housing, community centres, parks and waste collection – for approximately 152,000 residents, 106,000 people who work in Oxford and the millions of people who visit our world-famous city every year.
We have set four key priorities, all of equal importance and all interconnected:
- to enable an inclusive economy, where everyone has access to sustainable business and employment opportunities
- to deliver more affordable housing, including a new generation of council homes to help meet our acute housing shortage
- to support thriving communities, reducing the stark inequality between our city’s richest and poorest residents
- to tackle the climate emergency by pursuing a zero-carbon Oxford
Our vision is to build a world-class city for everyone.
Oxfordshire has a two-tier system of local government, which means services are provided by two different councils. Oxford City Council provides local services for the city, while Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for strategic, countywide services such as roads, schools and social care.
