Preston Pub Sign Study The Market Tavern

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This pub dates from 1869. Markets in busy towns are prime locations for pubs as shoppers and market traders need breaks and work up a thirst. When looking for pubs to visit or just photograph in any town without having seen any maps or directions before I head to the town centres as there are always concentrations of pubs near big churches, town halls and street markets. The Black-A-Moor’s Head and the now closed Farmers Arms pubs were already established in the area before the market was built – they were built when the waste ground was used for visiting fair grounds on bank holidays. The Market Tavern was purposely built to coincide with the rise of the market stalls. The Market Tavern ended up being among 14 pubs set within sight of the market itself and like several others, it allowed traders to store produce in the pub’s unused rooms overnight. The building of the Harris Centre was controversial in that it led to the compulsory purchase and demolition of many shops, houses and seven of the fourteen popular pubs, but The Market Tavern was one of the survivors and its trade increased significantly due to the popularity of the museum and gallery facility ince they were built. This is an earlier sign from the pub depicting well-dressed early 18th century people enjoying the open drinking area between the pub and Market that gives it purpose and identity. The current sign just has says The Market Tavern without any picture. I know which I prefer. Arthur Chappell