Top Ten Endangered Buildings 2021: Indoor Market, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Unlisted, Architect Unknown, (1897)

The market tells the story of Burslem’s rise and subsequent decline, with its ghost signs and fading advertisements from the Victorian era that still adorn several closed shops attached to the market hall. Burslem indoor market’s gothic design and ironwork is reminiscent of King’s Cross station in London.

The market tells the story of Burslem’s rise and subsequent decline, with its ghost signs and fading advertisements from the Victorian era that still adorn several closed shops attached to the market hall. Burslem indoor market’s gothic design and ironwork is reminiscent of King’s Cross station in London.

The market closed its doors for the final time in 2003 after masonry dropped from the ceiling, making it unsafe for shoppers. It is now in need of vital repairs. The market’s impressive iron and glass roof is now in danger of collapse, and the repair bill is expected to be close to £1,000,000. The market is owned by the council.


Griff Rhys Jones said: “Like many Victorian markets across the country, Burslem Indoor Market was a busy part of the town. Now it stands empty and crumbling, a sad sight for those who still remember it bustling with life. Funding must be secured to repair this public building, which could create new job opportunities, and revive a community space. The market covers 11,000 square metres, with shops, and market floor, that could be re-imagined as community-use-space, small business premises and much, much more. Stoke on Trent Council is very keen to find a developer to assist them in bringing this building back to use. Could it be you?”

Photo Credit: Our Burlsem

UPDATE: Plans to convert the market into a refugee-run international food hall have been tabled. The project team includes Our Burslem community group, artist Ian Mood and regeneration expert Mike Riddell, and Colchester-based Market Asset Management, which helped to relaunch Crewe's market last year.

Click here to listen to Griff's Talk ‘That's the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

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