Councillors and MPs say they are determined not to let the fire that destroyed Ashton's Victorian market hall yesterday kill off the popular indoor market for good.
It's hoped that when engineers finish examining the walls of the Grade II Listed market hall, they will give the all-clear for the existing shell to be used as the foundation for a new hall.
But if the building does have to be demolished, town chiefs are determined that a new market hall will be built in its place.
Ashton market hall, built in 1881, was devastated by a fire which broke out yesterday, destroying all the 116 stalls inside.Tameside council is drawing up emergency plans to create a temporary market hall, possibly using marquee, as near to the wrecked market hall as possible.
A joint fire service and police investigation has been launched to establish whether the blaze was started deliberately or was an accident.
Forensic teams were today expected to begin the painstaking task of searching through the charred remains of the building's interior to pinpoint where and how the blaze started.
Coun Kieran Quinn, Tameside's executive member for economic services, said: "It is too early to say whether or not the fabric of the building can be saved, but one thing I am certain of is there will be a market hall in Ashton.
"I will be talking to MPs to see what assistance they can give us. The phoenix that rises out of these ashes will keep the market going for many, many years to come."
Ashton MP David Heyes said: "We have to wait for the expert reports to see what needs to be done, but I will certainly be calling for the market hall to be rebuilt as close to the original as possible.
"We should always take the opportunity to modernise and improve things, but the market hall is what Ashton is about. People travel from all over to come to Ashton Market."
Ashton market, which ia made up of a large daily outdoor market as well as the market hall, is one of the most successful markets in the north west.
While other markets in the region have declined over the years, Ashton's has continued to thrive.
What are your memories of Ashton market?
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My memories are sitting at the milk bar with a pineapple milshake.
The tannoy which announced lost/found
youngsters
The icecream stall outside the market hall.
I have many memories of walking round Ashton Market with my Mum and dad. Many visits to the card stall in the middle, one of the pet stalls, and the big light stall
My memories are the freindly staff who run the shops, especially the flower stall. Good luck in getting all your businesses going again. I truly hope that the market hall is restored or built again because Ashton will not be the same without it.
Memories of hot vimto an the cafe stall as a child and "pink and blue" liquorice - from allsorts. A persisting attraction to the sweet stall. A main attraction to the area and I agree with the comments in the article that the hall should be rebuilt as near to the original as possible.
I was absolutly devasted to hear that the Indoor Market of my home town had been gutted by fire. I received news yesterday from my dad and my heart sank, I think living so far away from home it has hit me much harder as I have such fond memories of going shopping with my family and friends there. I hope the building will be able to be restored and that the damage is not so extensive as to pull it down, that would be a great shame due to the history that surrounds it.
My thoughts are with all the stall holders and community for their loss.
How sad I was to hear of the dreadful fire that has gutted Ashton Market Hall. My very first job was on stall 38, New Generation, as a Saturday girl, then I stayed on when I left school. I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable job I've ever had. All the stall holders and staff knew eachother and it was always such a great atmosphere. It is such a shame that such a well known piece of local history has been destroyed. My thoughts go out to all the stall holders.
Natalie Whitelum
N.S.W Australia
formerly Ashton Under Lyne
I still can't believe what has happened to the market hall. I have lived in Ashton all my life and have many memories of it. Ashton must get it's market hall back. Hopefully they can save the building and we don't get a modern new build like Oldham did. I will miss Cheese on Toast from the cafe and the traditional oven bottom muffins from the bread and cake stall. It is so sad to see the place in the state it is.
What a shame. My mother in Hadfield told me about the fire.I have been going to this market since a young girl.
Every trip home I go
there. Glad to see that you a talking about rebuilding.
It was three'o'clock in the morning i was awoken to see my bedroom in a flourescant orange glow thinking i was in hell then i heard explosions then the rumble of engines fire engines i walked to the bathroom window to see a site i can only describe as being a scene from hell to believe it i videoed it the flames 150ft high the nucleous of tameside gone hopefully not forever please try to rescue this historical building .After the event i spoke to the chief fire officer who told me english heritage are hoping to restore it , i do hope so . how sad our hearts go out to the very warm and real people that worked and owned stalls in there.
My second attempt to write this just to log it for others to see that everyone is affected by this tragedy.Tuesday morning at 3am i was awoken to find the whole bedroom a flourescant orange glow thinking i was in hell but i began to realise i was awake just then i heard small explosions ,i walked to the bathroom window [which overlooks the back of the market hall] to find a scene from hell something i was totally unprepared for a sight that can only belong in imaginations of the most creative of imaginations but this was reality the whole roof was ablaze flames 150ft high a couple of firefighters had just started to put the flames out a lump in my throat told me this was very sad , i got my video camera and filmed it then from a neighbours window i still look at the footage with disbelief and even now i look and its awful the very nucleus of tameside.My heart goes to the people who had stalls in there stalls i have been to since i was a toddler fond memories.
I was reading the letters page in the daily mail this morning monday 31/05/04 and saw that ashton market hall had burned down. i was very sad and shocked about this news being born in ashton in 1938 and lived all my early years very close to the center of the town and the market.145 union street being my address. the site is now part of union street car park i still remember david conn the butcher where my mum bought her meat and pickels the newsagent / stationers where my brothers and i bought our comics.the different smells in the market were, and still are quite memorable.
i hope that all the stall holders involved overcome all the dificulties that they now face and offer my best wishes for the future.
i also hope that the market hall will rise from the ashes and the authorities will not use this disaster to change it into a modern monstrsity.
all the very best to you all.
When my niece called to tell me what had happened, my first comment was,"Where am I going to get my hot vimto next time I'm home?" What about my china tea cups? Socks for my kids,muffins,broken biscuits? Ashton Market Hall was a huge part of my growing up,we hung out there after school. On weekends it was a meeting place for us kids and where we stayed all afternoon if it was raining.I hope the powers that be see fit to rebuild the market as close to the original as possible,maybe with a sprinkler system this time??? My heart goes out to all the traders.I hope it's back to business as usual very soon.
Desperate news about the market fire especially for the stallholders especially if not insured. Words cannot express the devestation all must feel. I virtually lived there as a kid in Ashton. I'm on my way down to contribute to the 'fighting fund'