FOR generations of Leigh families, the indoor Market Hall was far more than somewhere to shop.
It was a workplace, meeting place, and social hub woven into everyday life in the town.
As part of efforts to preserve memories of the market and the people who worked there, former Leigh resident Linda Williams (née Robinson), now living in New Zealand, shared her recollections of growing up around the market during the 1970s and 1980s.
Linda grew up at 3 Faith Street with her parents, Frank and Patricia Robinson, and three siblings.
Her father worked as a mechanical engineer at Plank Lane Pit while her mother, Patricia, spent many years employed on Leigh Market.
One of Linda’s earliest memories of working life began in 1973 at the age of 13, when her mother arranged a Saturday job for her at Kathleen and Russell Beers’ café near the entrance to the indoor market.
“Saturdays were busy,” Linda recalled. “Russell made toasties, I cleaned dishes, and Kathleen and Beryl served customers.”
Although such work would now be considered unusual for someone so young, Linda remembers it positively.
“It gave me financial independence, taught me work ethics and the ability to mix with all types of characters,” she said. “I think I was earning 50 pence for three hours' work.”
The market itself was full of familiar personalities.
Linda remembers a bench near the entrance where regulars gathered every Saturday to chat, including a man named Tommy who sat knitting while carrying a handbag.
Her mother worked opposite the café on J. Townsend’s stall selling menswear and hosiery.
During school holidays, Linda and her sisters sometimes helped there too.
She vividly recalls the atmosphere on Saturday mornings as her father dropped the family off at the back of the market.
“There was always early morning hustle and bustle,” she remembered, with delivery trucks bringing fresh produce, bread, and meat to traders preparing for the busy day ahead.
Later, Linda moved to a butcher’s stall run by Millie and Jim, situated diagonally opposite the main entrance.
Starting with cleaning duties, she was eventually trusted to arrange meat displays and serve customers.
The stall sold chickens, chops, sausages, sirloin, and offal, with long queues forming throughout the day.
Jim worked in the traditional butcher’s uniform of white coat, apron, and flat cap, slicing meat on a wooden block while staff worked in the cramped space behind the counter.
Like many Leigh families of the era, the Robinsons valued hard work and community ties.
Linda remembers her parents being especially pleased that the butchers often sent her home with meat at the end of the day in addition to her wages.
The market also played an important social role.
Linda recalls neighbours Sally and Don Whittingham delivering produce to the market by truck, while traders and workers attended annual Christmas functions together.
Patricia Robinson continued working at the indoor market until its closure before later moving to the Co-op department store on Bradshawgate.
Today, decades later and living on the other side of the world, Linda’s memories provide a vivid glimpse into a vanished part of Leigh life - a place remembered not only for shopping, but for community, hard work, and friendship.
If you have any memories of Leigh from years gone by that you would like to share, please email tabitha.wilson@newsquest.co.uk.
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