What Next for Cheadle Market?

Town historian Mike Plant recently shared a comprehensive history of Cheadle town and how the market developed. A market has been held in Cheadle since the Lord of the Manor, Ralph Basset, was granted a charter for a market and fair during the reign of Henry III in 1250.*

The granting of the charter meant that Cheadle was forever a town, rather than a village,* but what of recent history? COGNEWS shares the story so far.

Cheadle Indoor Market showcases intricate red ironwork and vintage lanterns beneath a glass ceiling, reflecting its rich history and enduring charm. Picture: COGNEWS May 2026

District Council Involvement

In 2005, the market area was leased by SMDC for a period of about 5 years from Northern Markets. More restoration took place in 2006, when the Market Hall was extensively restored and officially re-opened by the county Lord Lieutenant. On a less positive note, some of the outdoor stalls were removed by SMDC and never returned. At the time, this was seen as detrimental to the market’s ability to trade.*

Death of a Market

In 2024, following the death of the owner of Northern Markets, the market was put up for sale at auction. SMDC councillors asked community groups not to bid as they intended to secure the market and its future for the town.

Soon after SMDC acquired the market, it was closed, even though a community volunteer had been successfully organizing themed and general markets. Bollards were installed along the perimeter to prevent stallholders from parking, which not only reduced parking on High Street but also made access to businesses more difficult. The windows were covered, blocking any view of progress, and expensive consultants were hired. One consultation aimed to determine what the local community wanted, while another assessed necessary work and potential actions. Despite requests for the research findings to be shared, they have not been provided, with the council claiming they would publish the results, which they have yet to do.

For the first time in nearly 1000 years, Cheadle is without a market or a viable prospect of having one. We hope this situation is temporary and not a permanent outcome for SMDC. Community-focused citizens are therefore urging SMDC to safeguard Cheadle's assets by designating them as Assets of Community Value, ensuring that the market can endure and thrive for another millennium of trading.

Cheadle High Street - Image Supplied by Mike Plant

Is There Hope?

A few days ago, COGNEWS was invited to attend a community engagement event for the market taking place on 3rd June and organized by consultants to SMDC stridetreglown.com.

This is a new consultant, and we're eager to understand their role and SMDC's plans - we'll keep you posted!

*credit Mike Plant

What Next for Cheadle Market? - created 19th May 2026