Leeds Kirkgate Market

Returning from my daughter’s in Nottingham on Monday, the National Express bus decanted me into Leeds for an hour and a half, before my onward journey home.  It wasn’t the warmest of days and I was happy to escape into Kirkgate Market for a delicious chicken, mushroom and cheese pancake.  As an additional bonus I snapped a few windows in this beautiful building.

If you follow the link it will give you the convoluted history of the building.  For my purposes it’s enough to say that it’s the largest covered market in Europe, with around 800 stalls.  The market dates back to 1822, the first covered sections being added from 1850.  The domed, glazed roof was modelled on Paxton’s Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde Park.  It has enormous appeal.

One last snippet of information- Kirkgate Market was the founding location of Marks and Spencer, which opened initially as a penny bazaar.  A commemorative clock was unveiled to mark the centenary of M & S in 1984.  Today there is still a Marks and Spencer’s stall alongside the clock.

Famous Marks and Spencer and the centenary clock.

Anyone remember a penny bazaar?

The flower stalls are lovely.

And the dragons are splendid!

The balcony was used for “fancy goods”.

This way for fish!

That’s my little crepe bar along at the end.

I sat at the little “outside” table

Oops! How did this get in here?

Just a few sweets to finish!

Click on the gallery to wander the market with me.

Thanks Dawn, for reminding me every week how much I like windows.  To join the challenge, visit Lingering Visions.