THE Market Place transformed shopping in Bolton 30 years ago.

Described at the time as a “new era of shopping excellence”, it gave many people their first glimpse at what the future of shopping would look like.

Bright, airy, and boasting a flagship Debenhams store over three floors, the Market Place was a statement of intent for Bolton.

In 2007, the shopping centre made another brave and bold decision when it bid farewell to its remaining market traders after 151 years.

But the Market Hall and Market Place have always moved with the times in a bid to give shoppers what they want.

In 1855, the original Bolton Market Hall, designed by architect G T Robinson, opened just before Christmas.

Measuring 294ft in length, and covering 7,000 square yards, it was said to be “the largest covered market in the kingdom”.

At a cost of £50,000, it was a huge civic project that galvanised the town during difficult economic times.

Just ten years later, in 1865, a fish market was added to the site, next to the Market Hall.

It cost a further £30,000 but gained Bolton a reputation for having one of the best fish markets in the North of England.

The fish market was demolished in 1932.

In 1938, the Market Hall sought to improve its layout by introducing roofed stalls in tightly packed islands instead of the long rows of stalls.

But the biggest innovation came in March 1988, when a £70million refurbishment gave us the shopping centre in its present form.

It was officially opened by the Queen nine months later in December 1988.

The new millennium ushered in worrying times for Bolton town centre and the Market Hall when the Whitehead’s store in Deansgate closed down.

In 2004, the Market Place made the bold decision to move the traditional stallholders out of the Market Hall.

The move proved controversial and prompted an 80,000-name petition.

And in 2007, the last 50 stallholders moved out of the site after 151 years of trading.

The Market Place hit upon hard times in 2013 when then owners, Agora Shopping Centres, entered administrative receivership.

But in November the centre received a lifeline when Moorgarth announced they would take over the Market Place with plans to build a nine-screen cinema and invest up to £15 million to revitalise the complex.