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Quiet space marks market anniversary

Tom Rowley
23/ 5/2007

A QUIET space where shoppers can reflect on the fire which devastated Ashton's Market Hall has been created.

With the third anniversary of the blaze falling tomorrow (Friday), Ashton Churches Together have created a space at one of the stalls within Pheonix market hall on Old Cross Street where stallholders and shoppers can pause, reflect or pray.

Mary Wadsworth, a minister at St Peter's CE Church in Ashton, who is also a Tameside Hospital chaplain, said: "Many people are still affected by the fire. Some stall holders and customers have found it easy to move on and put the fire behind them. But others are still grieving, some feel angry and let down and a few are actually suffering as a result of the fire.

"In the quiet space there will also be the opportunity for people to record their thoughts."

The quiet space - which will include Advertiser photographs of the ruined Victorian hall - will be open from 3pm today (Thursday) during market hall hours until close of business on Saturday.

Mrs Wadsworth, who was born in Ashton, said: "The old market hall meant quite a lot to me. When my kids were young we used to meet my mum there every Wednesday lunchtime - she lived at one end of Ashton and we lived at the other."

She added: "Many shopping centre provide quiet spaces/prayer rooms where people can pause a while from the stress and pressures of the day. This is the second time the market hall management has provided such a space and I and the retail chaplain, the Rev Bob Davies, are grateful to them."

A fully refurbished market hall is due to open in late spring of next year.