Lytham Market Hall

In 1848, the Lytham Improvement Commissioners, the local authority responsible for managing the town’s development, commissioned the construction of a purpose-built Market Hall to replace the open-air market that had long served local traders. Designed by Charles Reed of Liverpool, the new building cost just over £1,000 and was constructed in the Italianate style that was fashionable at the time, with round-arched windows, bracketed eaves, and a symmetrical frontage that reflected civic pride and ambition. Originally built as a single-storey structure, the Market Hall quickly became the heart of commercial and social life in Lytham.

In 1868, a clock tower was added to the building, a generous gift from Lady Eleanor Cecily Clifton of Lytham Hall. Her contribution gave the Market Hall a distinctive landmark feature that became a focal point in the town. A smaller tower was added to the west side in 1877, further enhancing the building’s appearance. In 1883, a drinking fountain was installed in front of the Market Hall in memory of Lady Clifton’s husband, John Talbot Clifton, who had died the previous year. The fountain became a popular meeting point in the Market Square.

By the late 1890s, trade at the market began to decline as Lytham’s economy shifted from agriculture and fishing towards tourism and seaside leisure. To adapt, the Market Hall’s interior was redesigned to create enclosed shop units, maintaining its role as a centre for local business. In 1909, the Clifton memorial fountain was moved to Sparrow Park near the railway station, and in 1922 the Lytham War Memorial Cenotaph was erected on the Market Square in its place, marking the town’s remembrance of those lost in the First World War.

In the 1950s, the upper levels of the Market Hall were converted into offices. Although the interior has changed over time, the building retains much of its original Italianate design and historic character. Today, it serves as a multi-use space, housing shops and offices while preserving the architectural heritage of the town.

The Market Hall remains an important part of Lytham’s story, representing its transition from a small market and fishing village to a prosperous Victorian seaside town. Its enduring presence continues to connect the community to its past while serving practical uses in the present.