Our history

1800's - On market days carts and horses would line every available space. The Friday market was one of the largest in Devon and huge quantities of meat and com were purchased for consumption in Plymouth and other towns. A hundred years later a farmer is said to have made an illuminating and informative remark: 'every human being from ten miles around - and some from Bristol and Truro - was in the town. '

It was Francis Russell, the 7th. Duke of Bedford, who determined to establish a permanent market place and bring order to the Friday trading. White's Directory for 1850 states:

‘The corn market is held in a building on granite arches, erected by the Duke of Bedford * in 1839; and it is said to be his Grace's intention to erect a commodious Market House for the accommodation of butchers, greengrocers, and the vendors of poultry, butter, eggs &c., whose shops and stalls are now scattered and inconvenient.’
*John the 6th. Duke. He died that same year.

Francis implemented these ambitious plans with foresight and vigour. His father's Corn Market still stands at the junction of West St. and King St. having been converted long ago for other uses including a cinema and the present day shop. The erection of a 'commodious Market House' entailed what was probably the most momentous upheaval in the town's history.

The Tavistock Markets Act 1859' was a necessary requirement for what was planned and after being passed by Parliament gave the Duke enormous powers. Among them he was authorised to:

‘construct Market Houses or Market Places on any part of the Site marked on the Plan’.
‘stop up and abolish Saint Matthews Street and Higher Brook Street and open a new Street from Bedford Square to Lower Brook Street, and continue
Pepper Street southwards into the new street’.
‘purchase, either compulsorily or by Agreement, and enter upon, take, and use such of the Houses, Lands, and Hereditaments delineated on the said Plan.. ..as he may think necessary’.
There is mention also of a proposed Slaughter House and Cattle Market.

These measures tore the heart out of ‘Old Tavistock’. The sweeping away of St. Matthews Street and Higher Brook Street left a huge swathe in the town centre for the creation of what is now the aptly named Duke Street, the wide thoroughfare from Bedford Square to the beginning of (Lower) Brook Street. Pepper Street was extended to join Duke Street as can be seen today. An even more astonishing development took place when the River Tavy was diverted. The few dilapidated buildings along the river bank were demolished and a retaining wall was constructed to allow for the formation of Market Road. All of which measures were paid for by the Duke.

The Market House, or Pannier Market as it is now called was completed in 1864 and was the heart of all market activity. It is a large rectangular building with an access road all around it. Three stone arches allow pedestrian access from Duke Street and another, larger arch, enters under the Town Hall from Bedford Square.