The market first moved to its current standing location in 1892, but it wasn’t always tented as we know it now.

Swindon’s first major market arrived in 1965, operating primarily as your local grocer with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, and not too dissimilar to some of the traditional Victorian markets around today.

As seems to be way, a few years after relocating to Commercial Road, the market was completely demolished in 1976 as a bid to reconstruct and recreate Swindon’s shopping centre.

In 1994 Swindon’s latest innovative idea became the ‘Tented Market’ we see today. The archetypal ‘fairground’ design is thought to be reminiscent of traditional attractions which were often featured on market days

Once a thriving market full of trade including butchers, cafes, barbers, and clothing stalls, the facility now faces a potential new purpose entirely


developers finally received the approval needed, from Swindon Borough Council, to start the planning of a new 11 storey construction. Although not finalised, developers are proposing to install a range of restaurants, shops and a café on the ground floor, and 95 flats amongst the remaining ten.

News of the closure has of course not come without cost, causing many businesses to either relocate or close altogether.

One of those visiting the market today was Swindon resident Geoff Bennett who said: “I came in to get my hair cut by the GodBarber but I found that they have moved from the site. I have to say that the whole place is looking pretty eerie now that most of the businesses have packed up and left. As someone who has lived in Swindon all my life, I remember the Old Victorian market building that was here before. It was a proper market full of life with fruit and veg stalls, a fishmongers and even a toy shop which was what I was really interested in at the time

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