The first direct mention of Darlington was between 1003 and 1016 when it was mentioned as a “market towne in the Bishoprike of Durham”, which Styr - son of Ulphus by licence of King Ethelred, gave to Aldhive, Bishop of Durham.
From very early days up to 1854 it was the custom to have one or two men placed at each entrance to the town to collect tolls, and they had the power of seizure in case of non-payment.
Up until the nineteenth century the market was governed by a bailiff appointed by the Bishop but in 1854 the Local Authority purchased the market right for the sum of £7,854 19s 4d.
The Covered Market was built in 1863 at a total cost of £16,356 8s 9d by the Local Government Board who became convinced that the time had come for a more hygienic display of foodstuffs.
The Market Cross was taken down from the Open Market on the 24th July, 1862 to make way for the Covered Market. Upon its completion it was placed inside. The Cross was the centre of all public rejoicings and also the place of punishment for wrong-doers.
Although several designs were submitted, the board decided to call in the services of Mr. Alfred Waterhouse, a successful Quaker Architect, who submitted plans for a building to cost some £14,000, in June, 1861. The plan, which incorporated a clock tower, was adopted in December, 1861. The clock by Cooke of York. People at first could not tell the time from it, because the dial was coloured and it had gilt hands. After consultation with Mr. Pease (who donated the clock to the town) they were replaced and white glass and black hands were installed instead.
When the huge size of the project became known in the town, there was much angry opposition. One rate-payer wrote as follows: “The powers that be have decided that our noble spacious and glorious old Market Place, the pride of every native, with the exception of a few Jobbers who have no love for anything but filthy lucre, and who worship no God but Mammon, is to be built upon, we the poor who cannot afford to leave our homes and enjoy the pure air of a “villa residence”, are to suffer this wrong”. Ignoring the criticisms the board went ahead with the scheme. Mr. J.B. Pease said he did not agree that the new buildings would injuriously diminish the open area in the centre of the town. Alfred Backhouse opposed the use of light coloured fire bricks, he thought they would soon get dirty, and he advocated the use of good red bricks.
In May, 1862 Mr. Stap of Longton, Staffs. was chosen to erect the new buildings. He gave £380 for the old hall proposing to use much of the Market building and work began in July, 1862.
In July the firm advertised for between 20 and 30 stonemasons and the following November they went on strike because one young man did too much work.
The Covered Market was opened on 2nd May, 1864 and is described in the directory of that time as “an elegant and substantial Gothic building of white bricks and stone dressings, the roof supported by columns and perforated girders, with a neat row of shops underneath.
The opening day coincided with the first hirings and the Covered Market was crowded all day. A local paper reported that the noise and tumult created by every possible description of musical instrument was really awful!
The clock tower and spire were finished in July, 1864. The Market building was originally open at the sides but was surrounded by a low fence to keep dogs out. Improvements to board up the sides and erection of porticoes or arcades along the north, east and south sides were carried out the following year; the boards cost £800 and the arcades £1,800 and proved to be of great benefit to the traders.
The Town Hall was tenanted by the Backhouse family who paid £12 per month while their palatial offices on the High Row were being built.
The Covered Market was closed between December, 1977 and February, 1979 for major refurbishment works. During this time the glass canopy was replaced and cellar rooms provided for the traders.
Numbers 1-4 East Row were let to Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers who have since moved/ceased trading. The names were Edwards/Shepherds/Olivers & Moores. In addition East Row also housed the outdoor fish market stalls belonging to F&S Moore/E Pawlett/PA Liddle & Sons & O Cloke. Only Liddles continue but now from stalls 11 & 12 in the main hall.
Part of the cellar area (that which supports the clock tower) was, for a time used to store wine bottles, the layout of ‘tiered’ bricks, temperature and lighting were ideal for that purpose.
Fire engines were located in the basement and drawn by a team of horses (stabled in Bakehouse Hill). To prevent damage, rails were laid in the central aisle.
The Corn Exchange held sales here before later transfer (to Victoria Road), these ceased in the 1970’s.
Above what is now the newsagent stall, there is a bricked up window and to the right is ‘ghosted’ cross marking. This held a bell which was rung from the managers office, to signal the commencement of the meat auctioning. In those days, any unsold meat was taken down to the Ice Factory on the corner of Feethams & Beaumont Street for overnight refrigeration. No doubt sales were conducted along the way to avoid the incumbent costs (cheapest just before entry through the door!).
Until December 1977, the clock mechanism was hand wound 3 times a week. Weights were drawn up from the basement through cut-outs in the staircase onto cable drums (approximately 70 turns on each handle). On Heritage Open Days each September, tours reveal these inner workings as well as the bells, cast by John Warner & Sons (who also cast Big Ben) and a birds eye view of the town centre gives excellent and unique photo opportunities.