These images capture the era of Blackpool’s oldest market, which is now lost to time.
Trading began in a building on Market Street in 1844 before a new market was built between there and Corporation Street in 1893 with much of the produce on offer coming from the growers of Marton Moss.
The new St John’s Market in King Street opened on 28th May 1938. In the late 90s there was movement on the redevelopment of the site and the market eventually closed. Sainsbury’s at Talbot Road gateway now stands in its place.
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1. St John’s Market Memories
Market Supervisor John Holmes (left) and greeting card stallholder Keith Thompson back in 1998 Photo: Send in
2. St John’s Market Memories
This was in 1998 – can you remember the market when it was like this? Photo: DAVE NELSON
3. St John’s Market Memories
Pictured at St John’s Market launching Lancashire County Council’s new booklet “The Magic of the Markets in Lancashire” are L-R Councillor Stan Hill, Vice-Chairman of Blackpool’s Tourism and Leisure Committee, County Councillor Roy Lewis, Chairman of Lancashire’s Tourism Sub-Committee, and Mrs Phyllis Riley, stall holder, 1997 Photo: submit
4. St John’s Market Memories
Firefighters bring a fire under control at the market in 1997 Photo: John Atkinson
5. St John’s Market Memories
Traders from St John’s Market, Blackpool happy to be back in business after the 1997 blaze Photo: Martin Bostock
6. St John’s Market Memories
This photo was taken for a feature on the proposed closure of the market. The picture shows the few remaining stalls surrounded by empty ones Photo: Robert Charles Norton Lock
7. St John’s Market Memories
Stallholder Glenn Wells, whose family had been in the market for 46 years in 2000 Photo: Robert Charles Norton Lock
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Shopper Kath Mulholland adds her name to the petition calling for the market to be saved back in 2000 Photo: Robert Charles Norton Lock
9. St John’s Market Memories
All closed up for good in 2001 Photo: Bill Johnson
10. St John’s Market Memories
St John’s Market in Blackpool being demolished as part of the town centre redevelopment in 2002 Photo: Rob Lock
11. St John’s Market Memories
This photo was taken around 1920 Photo: staff
12. St John’s Market Memories
The weighbridge can be seen by the bollards outside St John’s Market, King Street, in May 1938 Photo: Submit
13. St John’s Market Memories
Too early even for a photo – an evocative painting of St John’s Market more than a century ago Photo: Submit