There is a long history of open-air markets in Inverness. In early Victorian times the weekly open air markets selling everything from fish to cheese stretched from Eastgate to the front of the present Town House on an area known as The Exchange.

In 1876-70 the Town Council built a covered market on the site of the present Victorian Market. This was destroyed by fire although the original sandstone entrance in Academy Street remains.

This entrance consists of 3 round arches with the centre keyblock carved with a bull’s head and the outer ones carved with rams’ heads.

Following the fire the Victorian Market was rebuilt by Inverness Town Council in 1890-91.

It is owned by the Inverness Common Good Fund and managed as part of the Inverness area of the Highland Council. It includes the Market Arcade which runs from Academy Street to Union Street and, through the privately owned Queensgate Arcade, to Queensgate (opposite the post office).

The Market Arcade is built of brick with round-headed shop fronts.

It is linked to the Market Hall with its splendid Victorian cast-iron and wooden-domed roof.

The Market hall was formerly a fish market and part of the sandstone arch leading from Church Street has been worn away by the sharpening of the fish merchants’ knives.

Over the years the Market Hall became filled with open stalls.

The Council has recently refurbished the Market Hall to create small shops that reflect the Victorian character of the Market.

A new tile floor has been laid throughout all three markets.