« Back to 1999 News Archive

George Street Market Re-opens

Stranraer market opened its doors at the Millennium Centre in George Street on Wednesday 24 November 1999.

Stranraer has had a long history of markets stretching back to 1617 when Kink James VI of Scotland granted Stranraer its Royal Burgh Status, along with the right to hold a market and erect a Tollbooth. The first Tollbooth was erected in George Street, its site now marked by a market stone which can be seen in the road opposite the door of Stranraer museum, some three metres from the pavement. The market first traded in George Street and by the mid 1800’s a market hall was built. This is now part of the museum and more information on the story of the market can be found here. The market later moved to Belvilla Road as a cattle market and household furniture auction – a Wednesday market was also introduced successfully as an adjunct to the Friday cattle market. In 1994 the site was sold and became our Safeway supermarket, with the market moving to the more isolated Dalrymple Street.

The Chamber of Commerce initiative to purchase and renovate the former Co-operative supermarket, with financial assistance from Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise, the European Regional Development Fund and the Small Towns Initiative, has provided an opportunity to bring the market back to its original site in George Street some 300 years after its first establishment.

Support your local market!