Tollinton Market

Tollinton Market, Lahore

Tollinton Market is a historic colonial era structure located adjacent to Anarkali Bazaar and the Lahore Museum on Mall Road, Lahore. Constructed during the British Raj in 1864, the building has served multiple functions over the years, including its initial use for the Punjab Exhibition 1864, its later role as the Lahore Museum (1864-1893), and finally its transformation into a public market. In more recent decades, it has undergone conservation and now functions as an exhibition space under the administration of the National College of Arts, Lahore. The evolution of the building reflects both its architectural significance and its continued relevance in the cultural landscape of the city.
In 1861, the British government in India initiated preparations for the Great London Exhibition 1862. The 1862 exhibition in South Kensington, London, featured 28,000 exhibitors from 36 countries and showcased arts, crafts, manufactures, and antiquities. Following the Great London Exhibition of 1862,officially titled the London International Exhibition of Industry and Art, plans were made by the British colonial administration to organize a similar event in Punjab.
The Punjab Government established District Committees led by Deputy Commissioners to collect exhibits from across the region. Official guidelines were issued to direct the collection of raw materials, antiquities, handicrafts, and manufactured goods. A dedicated structure was to be built to house the exhibition, though it was initially intended as a temporary installation.
Majid Sheikh describes the construction of the structure in detail. The design, prepared by Captain Francis Fowkes of the Royal Engineers, was based on a structure used during the 1862 London exposition, located on the site where the Natural History Museum in London now stands.
In Lahore, the engineering corps followed Fowkes’ design under the leadership of Henry Phillips Tollinton, the newly appointed Assistant Commissioner. Tollinton. Tollinton was an officer in the Indian Civil Service. As Assistant Commissioner of Lahore, he led fundraising efforts and supervised the construction process. His leadership ensured the timely completion of the building. The construction of the building finished in 1864, and it was initially referred to as the Punjab Exhibition Hall. Decades later it came to be known as ‘Tollinton market’, named after the Assistant Commissioner.

The Punjab Exhibition opened on 24 January 1864 and concluded in the first week of April. It was inaugurated by Sir Robert Montgomery, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. The exhibition featured a wide range of items representing the province’s industry, art, and antiquities. Following its closure, the building remained occupied with exhibits, many of which became the foundation of the Lahore Museum’s collection. During the Great Darbar in October 1864, the structure was also used for the distribution of ‘Khilluts’. Over the following years, gradual structural improvements were made, including reroofing sections of the hall and laying burnt brick flooring. Eventually, the entire building was reroofed and repurposed as the Central Lahore Museum.
Between 1864 and 1893, the building served as the Central Museum Lahore. The collection expanded significantly due to the contributions of the Punjab Exhibition. Muhammad Latif recorded detailed descriptions of the displayed items, which included raw products, woodwork, ancient jewelry, excavated columns, sculptures, coins, brassware, ivorywork, copperware, papier-mâché, pottery, and zoological specimens.

In 1887, a decision was made to construct a more permanent museum building adjacent to the Mayo School of Arts. The new structure was completed in 1893, and the collection was transferred accordingly. After this transition, the original hall was sold to the Lahore Municipal Committee, which converted it into a market. Muhammad Latif noted that there had been a long-standing need for such a facility. The site became Lahore’s largest fruit and vegetable market and included various stores, making it one of the city’s most frequented commercial spaces.
Over time, the building deteriorated, and government plans were made for its demolition. However, advocacy from architects, preservation groups, and the public prevented this outcome. Between 2002 and 2004, a comprehensive restoration effort was undertaken by the “Tajdeed-i-Lahore Committee,” formed by the government in response to public concerns. The project aimed to restore the building to its original 1864 appearance. During the 1920s, the original gable roofs had been replaced with flat roofs; these were dismantled and replaced with sloping roofs during the restoration. The interior was also adapted to accommodate a Craft Bazaar, reflecting a new cultural function.
Today, the Tollinton Market building stands restored and is administered by the National College of Arts, Lahore. It serves as an exhibition hall and gallery, continuing its legacy as a site of public engagement and cultural display. Its layered history—from exhibition hall to museum, from market to heritage site—underscores its enduring architectural and historical value in the urban fabric of Lahore.