Urban population increases in 18th & 19th century England and Wales arising out of industrialisation, gave impetus to changes in the ownership and provision of physical market places for the sale of foodstuffs and other products in towns and cities.

The street commissioners decided that a sheltered market hall was needed, with powers granted by the Birmingham Improvement Act 1828 (9 Geo.

They bought the market rights from the lord of the manor and, by 1832, all properties on site had been purchased, with exception of two, whose owners demanded a higher price.

To fund the purchase of these properties, two buildings were constructed either side of the market hall and the leases sold at auction.

[3] It was completed by Dewsbury and Walthews at a cost of £20,000 (£44,800 if the price of acquiring the land is included) and opened on 12 February 1835, containing 600 market stalls.

[4] In later years the market hall was illuminated by electric arc lighting; a 1902 article notes that the blue colour of the light "gave to the fruit, flowers, and meat a peculiar hue which spoilt their fresh appearance, raised doubts, and caused people to hang back from investment."

[12] In the centre of the 365-foot (111 m) long, 180-foot (55 m) wide and 60-foot (18 m) tall hall was an ornate bronze fountain, designed and made by Messenger and Sons, and given by the Street Commissioners upon their retirement in 1851.

[14] The fountain was depicted, in situ, in an 1880 watercolour painting by Walter Langley, which is now in the collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Crafted by William Potts and Sons of Leeds in 1883, and restored by them, it consisted of over-life-size figures of Guy of Warwick, the Countess, a retainer and a Saracen, and had bells (recast in 1935 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough) that struck the hours and Westminster Quarters.

[16] The interior (including the clock) and roof of the hall were destroyed on the night of 25 August 1940 after being set on fire by incendiary bombs, during an air raid of the Birmingham Blitz.

[20] The site was then landscaped as an open space, Manzoni Gardens, being replaced in turn when the Bullring shopping mall was constructed in the early 21st century.