1700s

Cardiff market was not only the place where farmers from the surrounding countryside bought and sold their livestock and produce, it was also where townspeople bought their household supplies of fresh food including meat, corn, butter and cheese. There were other goods for sale such as wool, cloth and earthenware. As late as the 1790s there were only 25 retail shops in Cardiff, most purchases of everyday necessities still had to be made from stalls in the market place under the town hall.

A new town hall was built in High Street in the 1740s. The main entrance to the market hall on the ground floor was under steps, but there were also arcades open to the street. This hall stood in High Street until 1861.