Leeds Kirkgate Market
Description: Leeds Kirkgate Market is a market in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England located on Vicar Lane. It is the largest covered market in Europe. There are currently 800 stalls which attract over 100,000 visitors per week.
Location
The markets are situated with their front facing onto Vicar Lane and the southern face onto Kirkgate. To the east is Leeds City bus station, while to the north is an open car park, which shall become part of the Eastgate Quarters should that development take place. To the south of the open market is the markets multi-story car park operated by National Car Parks (NCP). From across Vicar Lane, the markets are connected to Briggate via the Victoria Quarter.
Historical Origins
The markets first opened in 1822 as an open air market, and between 1850 and 1875 the first covered sections of the market had been constructed after the market moved from Briggate. The Central Market hall, built alongside Duncan Street, was surrounded on three sides by shops that were mainly rented to butchers and fishmongers. Inside the hall, stalls were erected for the sale of fruit, vegetables, and dairy produce, with the balcony being used for selling fancy goods. The South Market, bordering Hunslet Lane and Meadow Lane, was used by butchers, various goods shops, open stalls, nine slaughterhouses and eighteen homes.
Plans for a market on the Kirkgate site were first unveiled in 1850 by Borough Commissioner to plans modelled on Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace in London's Hyde Park. Development began on the current site in 1857. Then in 1875, further land was acquired to the South and East for the expansion of the market.
The Corn Exchange and First and Third White Cloth Halls were all situated in close proximity, creating a market area in the city centre. The Third White Cloth Hall closed in 1865, moving to Queen Street, ending this concentrated area of market trading.
Transportation
Buses heading outside of the city as well as National Express coaches stop at Leeds City bus station, to the rear of the complex. First Leeds buses stop at various points on the bus-box of which Vicar Lane is a part. The Corn-Exchange bus stands are situated close to the Markets. The Leeds-City-Bus connects the Markets with Leeds City station The Vicar Lane and Markets car park are situated close-by. The formerly proposed Leeds Supertram and the currently proposed Leeds Trolleybus include a stop to serve both the markets and the bus station.
