TAVISTOCK Pannier Market reopened to great fanfare last Friday, with traders moving back into the market building after months of improvement works.

Permanent stallholders have moved back into their normal home for the first time since December, having taken up residence in the newly refurbished Butchers’ Hall, town hall and Bedford Square while the works were carried out on the market roof and surround.

The work to the pannier market roof was necessary to rectify localised water leaks and prevent further deterioration of the Grade II listed building. All of the refurbishment, replacement and repair work was carried out with appropriate heritage materials.

Among the most notable improvements for shoppers are automatic glass doors, which replace heavy wooden doors and allow more light into the building, refurbished toilets, new internal lighting and a new heating system.

With the works now completed, the Butchers’ Hall will open for a variety of vibrant themed markets and events, with a formal opening in July.

The cost of the project was £510,000 jointly met by the council and the Heritage Lottery Fund Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme, with an additional £160,000 funded by the council for the additional internal works.

Tavistock mayor Cllr Philip Sanders said the market had a ‘huge amount of history’ and seeing it reopen was ‘quite an occasion’.

He added: ‘There are very few markets like this still in existence and still producing a huge amount of interest and business and really profit and benefit to the town.

‘The significance of this building can’t really be overstated.’

Pictures by James Bird.