Higher Market - Queen Street

The old livestock market had originally been in the High Street was moved to Higher Market Street in 1691. However, the street was north of the High Street, in a cramped space bounded by Gandy Street and the High Street.

The cholera outbreak of 1832 was a hard lesson for the City Chamber, who were prompted to improve the public health of the city. To this end, the Improvement Commission decided to build tow new markets in Exeter, One close to the old Higher Market Street and one off Fore Street. Construction started on 8th May 1835 on the new Higher Market and after three years it was opened at 6 am on 24th July 1838 by the Mayor and Receiver.

Originally designed by John Dymond, and completed by Devon born Charles Fowler who also designed Covent Garden, the building displays a magnificent facade of Doric columns from Cornish and Bath stone. Measuring 230 ft by 165 ft it is estimated to have cost £50,000 to build.

Fowler was also responsible for the design of the Lower Market, off Fore Street. The Higher Market was built to house a market for fish, poultry, dairy and fruit and vegetable produce, it had an equally magnificent facade on the rear, facing Goldsmith Street, stretching from the present day W H Smith, to Marks and Spencer.

Because it was such a large space, the market hall was occasionally used for other functions. In October 1859, the Earl of Cardigan inspected the 9th Lancers at the barracks. After, a grand banquet was given in the market-hall for the soldiers and their women, who had recently returned from India. Also in attendance were the Mayor and High-Sheriff of the city along with representatives of trade and commerce. Late in the 19th century, shops-fronts were installed along the Queen Street front of the Higher Market, requiring the removal of some pilasters on each side of the central Doric column area. Greenslades Tours, H Quick & Co wholesalers of leather and others traded from here.

The old Victoria Hall, further down Queen Street, burnt down on 6th October 1919. The fire was fought by six fire brigades and supported by one from the railway. Damage was estimated to be of a value of £6,000, of which £2,000 was the loss of the organ.

The Civic Hall

Soon after, the decision was made to convert the right hand side of the Higher Market, that was formerly used by the butchers, into a new Civic Hall as a replacement for the burnt out Victoria Hall. The conversion cost £6,000 and was designed to seat as many as 1,500. The space was used for fashion shows, bingo, boxing, sales exhibitions, and opera.

A couple of events at the Civic Hall were reported in the Times; in October 1929 the International Exhibition of Handicrafts, 'the work of crippled people' was staged for three days. Just eleven years after the First War, there was still a need to educate the public to the requirements of the many disabled veterans of the conflict, and how to employ them in useful work. In 1932 a mass meeting was held at the Hall in connection with the West of England Conference of Evangelical Clergy, with Sir Edgar Plummer as chairman, a past owner of Colsons in the High Street. However, it wasn't until the 1960's that the Civic Hall started to rock with acts such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac appearing on the stage.

The Civic Hall closed in 1970 as St Georges Hall (now the Cornmarket) took over many of the Civic Hall's events.

In 1962, the Higher Market was closed down and plans invited for the redevelopment of what was known as the 'Golden Heart'. Initially, three plans were submitted, with only the Traders' Redevelopment Association ideas incorporating the Higher Market. None of these projects were accepted, but in 1977 the Golden Heart Project was completed and became the present day Guildhall Shopping Centre. The Historic Buildings Council provided £25,000 to Laing Development Company for work in preserving and restoring the Higher Market as part of the development. The interior of the old market now houses cafés and a range of stores on two levels. A German television production company that films in Exeter for a popular series, based on the Rosamunde Pilcher books, has used the front of the Higher Market to represent the Bank of England.