Cheadle Market
Dating back to King Henry III, Cheadle’s historic market has long been a focal point for both commerce and community—the town’s locals gathering to trade, watch a theatre show, or join seasonal processions.
But over time, and under pressure from the immediacy of online retail, activity has declined. Weekly outdoor traders have kept things bubbling under, but by the time Staffordshire Moorlands District Council bought the site in 2024, the main hall had no heating, poor ventilation, and inadequate toilet blocks.
We’re working with the council to breathe life back into this vital local asset—designing a brighter future, built on what made the market flourish for nearly 800 years: community.
A marketplace of ideas
Our engagement with the community in Cheadle began just as any busy day at the market would—a chorus of local voices, sounding in the main hall.
Together with market specialist Esther Worboys and our Impact Researcher, Dr Habib Ghasemi, we hosted a range of surveys and interviews with local residents aimed at drawing out the aspirations they hold for their market, and their town.
Across every conversation, one narrative rang true. Locals wanted their market back, and better than ever. They wanted somewhere to shop, hang out, host events, and buy local—all whilst feeling closer to Cheadle’s storied cultural heritage.
By bringing a strong and steady beat back to the heart of this historic market town, theirs was a vision not only for a revitalised community asset, but for Cheadle’s wider renewal.
The promise of prosperity, made square
Framed by a Georgian terrace at the rear, the market square sits just off the high street. But, at present, the hall feels disconnected from it—its entrance, subtle. Hidden away. Our design brings the two spaces together: the hall and square, working as one, giving the site a greater sense of presence that would draw pedestrians in, and reconnect the market to the town’s wider fabric.
Running along one side of the square, a new canopy will frame the development in cultural heritage, taking cues from the market hall’s original Victorian cast iron frames.
On the opposite side, lightweight retail units will reactivate the square’s historic layout, giving independent traders flexible spaces to set up shop and build a customer base.
Inside, the main hall will be reorganised around food, drink, and local produce, with indoor seating and an arcade area that references the original design.
Altogether, these elements form a new narrative for Cheadle Market: once, the town’s greatest source of historic pride; now, its most striking symbol of progress.
Towns the country over want variety and local business back on their high streets. In Cheadle—a market that will be built around local, independent trade—we’re working to make that a reality.
Gareth Mason, Associate Director, Stride Treglown
To find out how we can help breathe new life into tired community assets, contact Gareth Mason today.
