FOR two years the sound of drills and diggers has been almost a part of shopping in Ashton as the new market hall took shape.

But what many visitors may not know is how long it took to prepare the site before building work could actually begin.

It took until November 2004 — six months after the fire — for the investigation to be completed and for the tonnes of rubble to be cleared from the hall.

Next builders brought in vast quantities of steel and concrete to make sure what remained of the Grade Two listed building was secure.

Remarkably the shell of the hall, which was built in stages starting as early as the 1830s, was still intact.

But it was during this they discovered the historic clocktower, now restored and still keeping time today, had absolutely no foundations.

The wall of the ‘fish gate’ — which looks out to the taxi rank — was also leaning out. If you look closely it still does now although it has been strengthened to make it safe.

Following a public consultation over the designs, contractors Laing O’Rourke were finally allowed in to create the building which stands there now.

The £16.2m project was completed on 14 November —four-and-a-half years on from the fire, but just one month later than Tameside Council originally planned.

In that time the Phoenix Market Hall was also built to temporarily house traders.

Alan Stopher, head of property services at Tameside Council, said: "In contrast to the Phoenix which we built in four-and-a-half months, we wanted to make sure it was right because we were building for the next century.

"The Phoenix bought us the time to think more carefully about the way we were going to rebuild what is one of the centrepieces of our town."