The Covered Market Oxford

The Covered Market is the famous covered market in Oxford, which has been operating continuously since the opening of September 1, 1774. Like in many other cities of Europe at the time, Covered Market was to solve the problem of street trade - the authorities wanted to remove stalls from the city center, especially with meat and fish and other perishable products that not only blocked the passage, but also heavily reeked. Today, The Covered Market retains its original functions.

As in the eighteenth century, the market offers primarily food products - raw meat, fruit, vegetables, fish, bread, cakes, sweets. Next to them are clothing, footwear and haberdashery stores, as well as many stalls with toys, souvenirs, home furnishings and gardening supplies. There are also cafes, bars and confectioneries within the market.

The form of The Covered Market, preserved to this day, was created by John Gwynn (1713-1786), to whom Oxford also owes the stone Magdalene Bridge on the River Cherwell. According to his design, a covered hall was erected with twenty butcher shops, the construction of which cost 960 pounds. In the following years, the market grew, because all of Oxford was buying fresh meat here (it could no longer be traded on the streets).