South Molton will come together on Saturday 4 July 2026 for a special Heritage Day celebrating the heritage, creativity and community of South Molton Pannier Market, and marking the grand opening of the market’s restored Victorian roof.
The grand opening of the restored roof will take place at 11.00am in the Pannier Market. The restoration forms part of South Molton Town Council’s heritage project, made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
The free family event will run from 9.00am to 3.00pm across South Molton Pannier Market and the Assembly Rooms, with activities under one roof including family arts workshops as part of The Big Draw, oral histories, a heritage quiz, poetry, local history, performances, film, craft workshops, children’s circus skills and refreshments.
The day will include audio-visual oral histories and a family quiz in the Pannier Market from 9.00am to 1.00pm, alongside old and new poems on the big screen. A guided Heritage Tour will start at 9.45am from South Molton Museum, giving visitors the chance to explore the town’s history and the stories behind some of its most important civic spaces.
In the Assembly Rooms, visitors can enjoy refreshments, learn about swifts with Save Our Swifts, take part in time capsule and clay workshops, and watch the film Coming Out of Lockdown. Later in the morning, new poetry and school performances will continue the celebration, including Charter Song from South Molton United and Community Primary Schools and Market Scenes Reimagined by students from South Molton Community College. A circus skills workshop will run from 11.00am to 3.00pm.
Adam Nichols, Pannier Market Manager said:
“This is a very special moment for South Molton Pannier Market. The roof restoration protects the building, but it also protects everything that happens underneath it, the traders, community groups, families and everyday conversations that make the market such an important part of South Molton life. We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for helping make this possible.”
Andrew Coates, Town Clerk at South Molton Town Council said:
“South Molton Town Council is delighted to mark the opening of the restored Pannier Market roof with a day that celebrates both the town’s heritage and its future. This project has enabled vital conservation work to be carried out on one of South Molton’s most important public buildings. Thanks to National Lottery players, the Pannier Market can continue to serve the town for generations to come.”
Heritage Day is open to everyone and all activities are free. Visitors are encouraged to come along throughout the day, take part in the workshops and celebrate the restored roof and the community heritage of South Molton Pannier Market.