Old Nupe Market

The Old Nupe Market (Sinhala: නූපේ පැරණි වෙළඳ ගොඩනැගිල්ල) or the Old Dutch Market is a historic, European-built structure in Matara, Sri Lanka. It is located about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) from Matara fort,[1] at the junction of the Matara-Akuressa Highway (A24) and Matara Road (B535).

Old Nupe Market
නූපේ පැරණි වෙළඳ ගොඩනැගිල්ල
Former namesOld Dutch Market
General information
Town or cityMatara
CountrySri Lanka
Coordinates5°56′51″N 80°32′6″E
OwnerArchaeological Department (Sri Lanka)

Building

The building was built in the late eighteenth century, probably by the British,[2] but possibly by the Dutch.[3] It was used to house the Nupe market.

The open-sided market building was constructed in a 'T' shape, with the upper bars of the T running parallel with the road and providing the entrance.[4] The pitched roof is tiled in red Sinhala Kandyan period clay tiles (peti-ulu) and supported by large white stone pillars. The supporting wooden frame of the roof is elaborate and edged with lavish latticework. The building is 15 metres (49 ft) high and comprises a 31 metres (102 ft) by 9 metres (30 ft)[5] timber portico in the middle of the building with three small wooden spires above the main roof. One wing would have housed the vegetable market, the other wing meat and fish. The stem of the T was mostly likely to have been used for the sale of textiles and household items.[4]

See also

References
  1. Punchihewa, Gamini G. (24 March 2002). "The Historic Tale of Matara". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. Herath, Jayassa (31 May 2014). "Quarterly Tours" (PDF). National Trust Sri Lanka. p. 13. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  3. Banduwardana, Rupa (13 November 2007). "Matara Fifty Years Ago". The Daily News. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  4. Royston, Ellis (2002). Sri Lanka. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-84162-269-9.
  5. "Nupe Market Matara". Department of Archeology (Sri Lanka). 3 August 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
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