Historic buildings at the centre of a major town centre regeneration scheme will be opened to the public for the first time in more than a decade when the site stages a Christmas market.
The owners of Innox Mills, a 10-acre brownfield site in Trowbridge, have teamed up with The Anonymous Travelling Market, the regional group that brings producers and crafters together to create artisan markets in unusual locations.
Staged between December 18 and 20, the market will offer a wide selection of products including artisan gifts, local ales and spirits, plus decorations, holly wreaths and Christmas trees.
Refreshments will include street food, spiced cider and mulled wine, with live music adding to the festive atmosphere.
Social distancing measures will be in place at the event to protect visitors and stallholders, including a one-way system.
As well as the Grade II-listed Innox Mills building, the market will take place in the former dye house, brewery and cloth factory along the riverside, which date back to the 19th century.
It will be the first time the public has had access to these spaces since 2009.
Plans have been drawn up by the site owners – also called Innox Mills – to transform the area, which once housed cloth mills and a Bowyer’s pork pie factory, into a mixed-use quarter for the town with food, leisure and retail space and open spaces as well as 300 homes, pictured below.
Ideas also being explored include an independent cinema and a co-workspace hub. A planning application is due to submitted to Wiltshire Council in the coming months.
Innox Mills has been staging monthly markets on the site in partnership with The Anonymous Travelling Market which have attracted around 3,000 people.
The markets, on the third Sunday of the month, have featured handmade arts and crafts and vintage clothing, plus street food, fresh produce and local craft spirits, ciders and ales.
Live music and a trampoline activity for children has also been added recently. Future Sunday market may make use of the buildings that will house the Christmas Market along with a street food courtyard and additional seating.
Innox Mills director Jonathan Dean said: “The Christmas Market is a great opportunity to allow visitors a look inside some of the historic buildings here as we progress our plans to create a vibrant new quarter in Trowbridge.
“The historic architecture will add to the rustic, festive atmosphere of the event, where visitors can pick up gifts and decorations while supporting local businesses.
“With other Christmas markets in the area cancelled this year, we’re keen to provide a good day out and give people the chance to see more of what this new quarter will have to offer.”
Future events on the site while it awaits planning permission could include a beer festival, outdoor cinema and comedy shows.
Jonathan added: “Social space will play a major role in the new development and we’re looking forward to announcing more initiatives in 2021.”
