Description:Around 1900, Wolverhampton Town Council decided that the existing Wholesale Market was inadequate in terms of access, storage and protection of goods, traders and customers. Various schemes were considered before it was decided to build a new Wholesale Market. Built in 1902-1903, it was opened on the 3rd October 1903 by the Mayor, Alderman George R. Thorne.
It was designed by J. W. Bradley, the Borough Engineer who was to be appointed as Surveyor for the City of Westminster in 1901, and built to the plans of Mr Green the new Wolverhampton Borough Surveyor, by George Cave & Son of Wolverhampton from local bricks with yellow terracotta facings and red roof tiles at a total cost of almost £17,000. It had basements below the working floor and office space above. It was lit by 16 arc-lamps and had strategically placed water hydrants in case of fire and for cleaning purposes.
An adjacent ice-works and cold-store building had been opened in June 1902. This was said to be able to produce 10 tons of pure clear ice per day.
In its turn, the new market building, designed in the times of horse-drawn transport, was deemed inadequate. It closed in 1973 and was demolished 1974. Permission was granted to transfer a clock and sixteen castings depicting the town's coat-of-arms to the new replacement facility in Stowheath Lane.
The market's site is now occupied by the Civic Centre on Wulfruna Street.