Preston Market contractors’ fishy discovery

Whilst digging out the trenches to take the ground beams – which form part of the foundation for the new market hall – contractors have uncovered shell pits from market traders gone by.

Oyster and cockle shell pits have been exposed in locations which tie in with historical photos of where the Southport Fishwives used to trade from.

However in an interesting twist, the shells were found below the original cobble flooring which was installed around 1875 when the larger covered market was built. The shells could be at least 140 years old, if not older.

Some of the shells will be taken off site to be put on display at the Harris Museum’s Discover Preston gallery as part of the market feature.