About Us

The largest niche retail area in the city, Truro Pannier Market is open from Monday to Saturday.

Located on Lemon Quay, the indoor market has four easy access entrances, one on each side of the building (Lemon Quay, Green Street, Tinner's Court and Tinner's Court leading to Prince's Street).

Many of our independent traders offer locally sourced goods and handcrafted items, which helps support the local community and economy. Our traders are all unique to one another, so shopping within the Pannier Market offers a wide variety of stalls including a Florist, Greengrocers, Wide range of Gifts, Haberdashery & Wool, Retro & Collectible Toys, Electrical Goods, Mobile Repairs, Shoe Repairs & Key Cutting, Cards & Gift Wrapping, Bedding & Towels, Wig Specialist and many more besides!  When you've shopped out, take the weight off your feet and sit down for lunch & a coffee at Fodders Espresso Bar in Tinner's Court, or enjoy delicious hot takeaway food from the front of the market.  Find details of all our traders using the HOME tab above.

 

HISTORY OF THE BUILDING

The art-deco style H.T.P. garage and workshop where the Pannier Market is now sited was built in 1936.  

As with much of Truro, there is a colourful history surrounding this area and we highly recommend Philip M Hosken's HTP Book - HTP Book for excellent facts and photos of the company who had a large part in creating what is the market hall today.

H.T.P. was founded in 1890 by W Hosken, John Harvey Trevithick and JS Polkinhorn.

During the Second World War, the H.T.P. workshop was converted into a factory for the manufacture and repair of Spitfire wings and components and armament.  H.T.P. Motors provided the British Army with the majority of all their vehicles, converting them into necessary service vehicles such as ambulances and continued to service essential civilian vehicles throughout the war.  After the war, the building returned to its original use with H.T.P. Motors Ltd before ultimately laying empty and derelict for many years.

THE PANNIER MARKET

The building was first used as a market during the late 70's.  Traders in those those days set up their stalls from panniers and sold from tables.  Some original traders can remember operating with no doors at the front, just concertina gates. The building was open to all the elements so traders had to dress in several layers with gloves, hats and scarves just to stay warm in the cold weather. Shoppers had to be made of stern stuff back then!

We are a dog-friendly establishment for both Guide Dogs and well-behaved dogs/responsible owners.

Details on our traders and information on their stalls can be found the Home page. If you are interested in becoming a trader, complete the form on the CONTACT US tab.