Cardiff Market

Cardiff Market (Welsh: Marchnad Caerdydd), also known as Cardiff Central Market (Welsh: Marchnad Ganolog Caerdydd), is a Victorian indoor market in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff city centre, capital city of Wales.

Originally the site of Cardiff gaol, the gallows were located on the site of the current St. Mary Street entrance, where Dic Penderyn was hung on 13 August 1831.

The market was designed by the Borough Surveyor, William Harpur, and opened in May 1891. A farmers' market is known to have existed at the site since the 18th century.

The market consists of two shopping levels, a ground floor and a balcony level which wraps around the market exterior walls on the interior. Entrances to the market are located at St. Mary Street, Trinity Street and from an alleyway off Church Street. There is a large H. Samuel clock above the High Street entrance, which was presumably donated by the H. Samuel jewellery chain, which once had a store just outside the High Street entrance.

Traders in the market offer a variety of fresh produce, cooked food, various delicacies and more durable goods. A trader of note is Ashton's the fishmongers, who have traded in the market since 1866 at the Trinity Street entrance selling a wide range of fresh seafood. Another trader of note is The Market Deli, a small family run business trading for over 100 years. The year was 1912, Ethel Dolbear along with her husband, Thomas Griffiths took over the family business from her father. In 1928, the business was then passed down to their son, Thomas Daniel Griffiths and was named T. D. Griffiths Fresh Foods, and the business operated from where the Market Deli stands today. Thomas worked in the business until his death in 1970. His wife, Mary Griffiths along with their son Martin, continued to work in the market using the name M. Griffiths Fresh Foods. They also had a successful shop in Whitchurch village, but made the decision to close up and concentrate solely on their business in the market. In 2000, after a decision to re-brand, the Market Deli was born and it was agreed by Mary, her son Martin, and his wife Cheryl, that Geoff Beer, as a long serving member of staff be made a junior partner. In May 2001 after a relatively short battle with cancer Mary died and at the end of that year, Martin had made the decision to retire. Martin and Cheryl agreed that the family business would be passed to Andrew, and Geoff was made an equal partner.