Opinion

A failure of planning? The uncertain fate of Birmingham’s historic markets

By 2025-02-06T02:00:00

Birmingham Indoor Market 2

Source: Google Street View

Despite eight centuries of history, Birmingham’s markets are being sidelined in the city’s latest redevelopment plans – with traders facing an uncertain future and no clear strategy for continuity, writes Joe Holyoak

In 1166, the Lord of the Manor of Birmingham, Peter de Bermingham, obtained a charter from King Henry II, permitting him to hold a weekly market. The market was held a few yards away from the de Bermingham home, the moated Manor House next to St Martin’s Church, in what later came to be called the Bull Ring. More than eight centuries later, the market is still running in approximately the same location.

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