Orchard Road Market Explained

Orchard Road Market, also known as Tang Leng Pa Sat and Tanglin Pa Sat, was a market on Orchard Road in Singapore. Built in 1891, the market was demolished in 1982 to make way for redevelopments along Orchard Road.

History

The market was built in 1891 as a replacement of the Orchard Road Municipal Market, originally known as Koek's Market after its original owner, lawyer Edwin Koek, which was found to be inadequate.[1] The new market only had one wing.[2] In 1902, a six-metre-tall cast-iron fountain made in Glasgow was placed in the market. An expansion was made to the market in 1910, adding another wing and a concrete frontage. The structure was raised a few years later due to frequent flooding. A second building was constructed in 1930, costing $25,000.[1]

In 1948, members of the Municipal Commission of Singapore began contemplating adding a second floor to the market, as the market was too small to serve the increasing population of the district.[3] In September 1950, a proposal for the rebuilding of the market into a two-storey building, which would cost $250,000, was rejected on the grounds that it was not an urgent requirement.[4] [5] Instead, essential repairs were made to the market, costing $5,000.[6] [7] An $18,000 expansion was made to the fish section of the market in 1954.[8]

In 1978, the market was earmarked for redevelopment by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, with the market's hawkers being relocated to the then newly built Cuppage Centre.[9] The market was demolished in 1979 and was replaced by Orchard Point.[10] The former site of the market has been included in the Orchard Heritage Trail by the National Heritage Board.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Orchard Road Market. Omar. Marsita. Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. 13 July 2022.
  2. Book: Ray Tyers' Singapore, Then & Now. 162–164. 9813002611. Tyers. Ray. Jin. Hua Siow. Landmark Books. 1993.
  3. News: 17 August 1948. Singapore's Markets Still In Primitive Stage. Malaya Tribune. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  4. News: 21 September 1950. Plan For Two-Floor Market Rejected. The Straits Times. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  5. News: 28 September 1950. NO REBUILDING AT ORCHARD ROAD MARKET. Malaya Tribune. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  6. News: 21 September 1950. $250,000 MARKET PLAN SHELVED. The Singapore Free Press. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  7. News: 28 September 1950. Plan For Two-Floor Market Rejected. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  8. News: 1 June 1954. MARKET REPAIRS START SOON. The Singapore Free Press. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  9. News: 2 December 1978. 'New look' plan by URA for Orchard Road. The Straits Times. Singapore. 14 July 2022.
  10. Web site: Orchard Heritage Trail. . Roots. National Heritage Board. 14 July 2022.
  11. Web site: Former Orchard Road Market. . Roots. National Heritage Board. 14 July 2022.