The Covered Market

In the heart of the old city of Oxford is a wonderful covered market with stalls that range from the tradition to the rather unconventional. 

Oxford has had a market probably since the late ninth century, when the town was fortified, and perhaps earlier.  The first written reference is found in twelfth century records. It started at Carfax (the main downtown crossroads) and spread along adjoining streets.

Land at the town center was expensive, and so the shops here had narrow frontages, barely two meters wide. This small size makes it easier to believe that there were, at one time, 47 tailor shops in Oxford. Shops then were workshops where goods were made to order, rather than stores.

The Covered Market first opened in 1774 and was started in response to a general wish to clear 'untidy, messy and unsavory stalls' from the main streets of central Oxford. Initially, there were 40 butcher shops (meat was only allowed to be sold inside the market) and from this nucleus the market grew, with stalls for garden produce, dairy products and fish.

Today there is still a great selection of meat, fish and cheese in the market but the scope of trading has greatly enlarged since the early days. Fruit and vegetable stalls still make for colorful displays but much of the produce is now imported from all over the world

As with many a market, its smells are part of the atmosphere: ground coffee, flowers, fruit, fresh meat and bakery delights.

The Pieminister has great savory pies and pasties 

The Cake Shop has amazing cakes for all occasions 

A cake in the shape of St Paul's cathedral. 

The store "Nothing" is next to the store "Next to Nothing.