The Market Hall story
What's now Market Hall Performing Arts Centre began in 1890 as a marketplace beneath a clock tower. Over more than a century, the building has been a market, a gymnasium, a mall fixture, and — twice — at risk of being lost entirely.
It's still here because the people of Peterborough decided it should be.
More than a century under the clock
Town Council Approves
Peterborough's Town Council approves $11,000 for a new market hall to replace the smaller market that had been operating since 1851.
The Doors Open
Designed by Toronto architect John Belcher, the new two-storey brick building opens at the corner of George and Charlotte Streets, crowned by a four-faced clock tower. The ground floor holds retail shops; the second floor hosts an indoor gallery market.
The Market Moves Out
The market that gave the building its name has gone. The upstairs gallery is converted into a gymnasium.
A Loss Next Door
The adjoining Bradburn Opera House is demolished to make way for Peterborough Square, a new shopping mall. Market Hall narrowly survives — absorbed into the mall's footprint but otherwise intact.
A Theatre Is Born
A one-million-dollar capital project converts the upstairs gymnasium into a performing arts centre. Operated initially by Artspace, the venue quickly becomes a focal point for the region's arts community.
At Risk Again
With no tenant in place to manage the theatre, the building's owner proposes converting the performance space into a bingo hall. The exterior façade is in serious disrepair.
The Community Steps In
Two campaigns emerge to save the building. Friends of Market Hall forms the non-profit organization that still manages the venue today. Save the Market Hall, led by Professor T.H.B. Symons of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, raises the funds for the City to acquire the building and begin restoring the exterior. Both succeed.
The Tower Stands Tall
After decades of slow decline, the iconic clock tower receives a comprehensive restoration. Restoration of the exterior façade is ongoing.
Still Performing
Market Hall is a 348-seat, fully accessible performing arts centre. We host dozens of community user groups, hundreds of performances, and thousands of patrons each year — and we remain a registered non-profit, supported by members, donors, sponsors, and volunteers.