Old, and Some New, Photographs of Woodbridge & Melton
This circa 1900 photograph shows that no attempt had been to formalize the layout of the Market Place or to formalize the parking for vehicles.
Phot180
In April 1896 the Woodbridge Urban District Council purchased the market rights and then started to offer yearly leases to run the market.
The income generated by the leases gradually diminished and, in 1936, the Council decided that there was insufficient demand for the market. In the same year the Council turned that part of the Market Hill, west of the Shire Hall, into a public parking space. The whole area remained open but the parking spaces were marked out by white lines.
Market trading had lapsed until the Town Council was approached, in 1960, by a trader who wanted to sell fruit and vegetables every Thursday on the Market Hill. This forced the council to take stock of their position as holders of the market rights. The eventual outcome was that the applicant was allowed to trade.
During the early 1970s the pedestrian area had been enhanced by adding three raised flower beds, each having a tree in their centre, and the western edge of the area was made into a bus lane. Between the bus lane and the Shire Hall there was a large area for the weekly market and other activities.
This photograph shows Woodbridge Market in 1985. The bus lane is to the left of the colourful market stalls.
For many years the market was a thriving concern with standing being available for up to about 15 traders. By 2002, the number of regular traders had fallen to 5 and they successfully lobbied the Town Council to allow them to move down to the Turban Centre.
The bus lane was eventually used for parking spaces when, as part of the Town Council's renovation of the Shire Hall in 2004, pavers were laid over the whole area.
Since 2010 Market Trading on has returned to Market Hill.
