Aberdeen Market
 Entrance to Aberdeen Market | |
 | |
| Location | Market Street and Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 57°8′46.78″N 2°5′52.23″W / 57.1463278°N 2.0978417°W |
| Opening date | 29 April 1842 (original) 6 November 1974 (most recent building) |
| Closing date | 23 March 2020 |
| Owner | Aberdeen City Council |
Aberdeen Market was a shopping centre which faced on to Market Street in Aberdeen, Scotland.
History
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The first indoor market on this spot was opened on 29 April 1842, but was destroyed by fire exactly 40 years later.[1] It was rebuilt, and demolished again in 1971.[2][3] The most recent building was opened on 6 November 1974 by William McEwan Younger.[4]
The British Home Stores branch closed in August 2016 following the collapse of the chain.[5]
A large mural was painted on the curved face of the building by the duo Herakut in 2017 as part of the NuArt Festival.[6][7]
In 2018, the owners of the market building and the adjacent British Home Stores unit, Rockspring (now Patrizia AG), submitted a planning application for permission to clad the existing building and increase the number of windows. Concerns were raised at the time over the potential loss of the NuArt mural painted a year earlier.[6] The proposals never went ahead, however later that year, another proposal was launched that would see the building demolished and a replacement built in its spot.[8]
The centre ultimately closed along with all non-essential shops in March 2020 as part of the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.[9] On 11 June, the operator of the building, Aberdeen Market Village, went into liquidation.[10] The following year, the building along with the connected BHS store were purchased by Aberdeen City Council.[11]
Shops
[edit]The market contained various independent retailers.[1] Following its closure, several tenants moved to different locations in the city centre,[12] including the Thai restaurant Madame Mews,[13] the DIY shop Nickel and Dime,[14] and the LGBT charity Four Pillars.[15]
Redevelopment
[edit]
In May 2021, a proposal was published that would see Aberdeen City Council purchase the market and the former BHS store. The property would be demolished and replaced with a partially open-air space for retail, food and drink, and leisure.[16]
Plans to demolish the market were criticised by the local branch of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland due to the environmental impact of demolition and constructing a replacement building.[17]
In October 2021, it was announced that the UK Government would contribute £20 million towards the redevelopment of the market, which is expected to cost £75 million in total.[18]
Demolition work was underway by March 2022.[19][20] On 22 March 2022, demolition of the curved wall with the mural began.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Strachan, Graeme (7 March 2022). "Remembering the glory days and the lost shops of Aberdeen Market". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Impressions of a 'march stealer'...". Aberdeen Evening Express. 7 November 1974. p. 6.
- ^ "New Market 1842~1971". www.mcjazz.f2s.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "New Aberdeen £2 3/4 m. market opened". The Press & Journal. 6 November 1974. p. 11.
- ^ McCann, Lee (16 November 2016). "End of an era as Aberdeen's BHS closes after 42 years". Evening Express. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ a b Beattie, Kieran (28 July 2018). "Calls for Nuart 'signature piece' to be saved in proposed Indoor Market refurbishment". The Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Aberdeen is undergoing a very unlikely revival". The Independent. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Aberdeen Market redevelopment reaches for the skies : November 2018 : News : Architecture in profile the building environment in Scotland". Urban Realm. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Cowgills appointed administrator of Aberdeen Market Village". Scottish Financial News. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Aberdeen Market operator placed into liquidation". BBC News. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Gossip, Alastair (2 August 2021). "Exclusive: BHS and indoor market sites taken over by Aberdeen City Council as purchase sealed". Evening Express. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ Bryce, Julia (3 September 2020). "What now for the Aberdeen Market food businesses who have been left without a place to trade?". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Bryce, Julia (19 November 2020). "Madame Mews to reopen Thai restaurant in new city centre home". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Proctor, David (23 October 2020). "Aberdeen retailer looks to the future after move away from home of 22 years". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Robertson, Kirsten (12 August 2020). "Delight as LGBT charity finds new home after Aberdeen Market debacle". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Council to discuss ambitious plans for BHS and Aberdeen market". Northsound 1. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Buchan, Rebecca (29 May 2022). "Pleas to re-use Aberdeen's 'eyesore' concrete buildings rather than harming environment by demolishing them". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ Hall, Jamie (30 October 2021). "'It needs a bit of magic': City residents react to Aberdeen market plans". Evening Express. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Gossip, Shona (8 March 2022). "Diggers move in as Aberdeen Market demolition progresses". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Hebditch, Jon; Rae, Steven (5 March 2022). "Pictures capture inside of Aberdeen Market as demolition continues". aberdeenlive. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Andonova, Denny (21 March 2022). "WATCH: Much-loved Aberdeen Market mural smashed to pieces during demolition". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
