Bury’s three-year wait for a new market hall and outside market was almost over when this photo was taken in June 1971.

Bury Times: Bury market under construction, 1971

Officials confirmed that everything would be ready for an October opening, six months later than had originally been planned.

The £750,000 ‘bird-wing’ roofed market hall and outside market were key parts of the town’s £3 million shopping development which was also nearing completion. Work had begun on the new markets in September 1968 and shortly after that a blaze destroyed the old market hall forcing market traders to carry on from a large prefab building.

Clearly it was a major success and Bury’s market is now acknowledged as one of the finest in the country