Queen Anne Revival Style at 323 Des Voeux Road (The Oldest Surviving Market Building In Hong Kong)

August 25, 2023

Back when I was having some quiet time and was randomly walking to take a breather, I came across Western Market with British architecture at 323 Des Voeux Road, Sheung Wan. I thought it must be one of the historical buildings in Hong Kong, or maybe a revamped one.

I was a bit disappointed to see the giant ventilation shaft of the train station in front of it because it covered the real view. But the whole building can be seen from the back. The royal architecture attracts anyone passing by, along with its distinctive red brick facades. There are red Chinese flags outside, and I was uncertain what those were for because they neither have anything to do with the market nor match the architecture.

As Wiki says, the Western Market was opened into business in 1844 with two separate blocks, South and North. This Queen Anne Revival Style (North Block) was built during the Edwardian period in 1906. Given so, this is the oldest surviving market building in British architecture.

Until now, the market has been open to the public and occupied by cafes, galleries, and different shops. However, during the day of my visit, which was Sunday, some shops were closed, and only restaurants and small stores were open.

Getting into The Grand Stage, I was greeted by royal nutcrackers on both sides with a red British telephone booth. A typical display I've been seeing in European countries in online photos and videos. This market was built during the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods. So even the interior is royal-inspired.

Its granite archways and window style would attract those who are into architecture and design. In the middle is a grand golden ball chandelier that glows all the time.

To see the full view of the Western Market, here's the model of the building's architecture.

It has four floors, but not all areas are occupied by tenants. Some are closed to the public, probably management offices or some sort. The main escalator to the second floor, where Cloth Street was located, was closed, so I took the stairs to see what was on the higher floors. There weren't any shops on the third and fourth floors, only restrooms and closed private areas. So only the first and second floors are occupied by tenants.

The second floor was closed and only a few shops on the first floor were opened. I thought of dining in the dessert corner, but since it was almost dinner, I changed my mind.

As mentioned above, this market is the oldest surviving market building in Hong Kong.*** This was also a witness of World War II. Based on the stories on the information wall, this market served as the rice warehouse and distributed rice to the citizens. This building underwent several renovations as well before it became permanently open as a market to the public.

Given that it is the oldest surviving market, a lot of historical facts are wontten on its old facades and kept between red bricks that only the building knows. As of now, it is one of the attractions in Hong Kong because of its history and architecture.

(All photos are mine)

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