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From fish market to future hub: Three vie to reinvent Beccles square

North side of Beccles Old Market

Three shortlisted for £50,000 Old Market revamp in Beccles

The Beccles Society launched the initiative last year to revitalise the Old Market area and restore it as a thriving community hub.

The shortlisted designs will be unveiled at Beccles Museum as part of a special exhibition charting the site’s significance over the past 1,000 years.

The finalists have been informed of their selection, but their identities will remain anonymous during the public vote to ensure a fair judging process.

The Old Market was once the town’s central square, serving as the site of a fish market in Anglo-Saxon times.

By the 19th century, it had become a venue for travelling theatres and menageries, and in 1868 was even reported to have hosted a parade of elephants and camels.

Designers were asked to incorporate greenery to help reduce traffic pollution, work within the existing layout, and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

The winning proposal must be delivered within the £50,000 budget. The designer will receive a £500 prize and a commemorative plaque.

Beccles Town Council and the Vibrant Beccles group have already reviewed the entries. Members of the public will be invited to vote during the exhibition, which runs at Beccles Museum from June 9 to August 8.

 

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