Construction of this Neoclassical building began in 1844 and were completed in 1847. It was designed by British architect
William Footner, and alterations completed in 1860 were designed by Irish-born Montreal architect
George Browne (1811–1885). Bonsecours Market also housed
Montreal City Hall between 1852 and 1878. The former city hall chambers later became a 3700-square-meter meeting room. The market building was also a venue for banquets, exhibitions and other festivals. Browne was charged with adding a 900-square-meter concert hall and banquet hall. The building continued to house the farmer's central market, until it was closed in 1963 and slated for demolition. However, the building was later transformed into a multi-purpose facility, with a mall that houses outdoor cafés, restaurants and boutiques on the main and second floors, as well as a rental hall and banquet rooms on the lower and upper floors and municipal office space. Bonsecours Market was designated a
National Historic Site of Canada in 1984. ==Legacy==