Robert Adam rebuilt The Market Cross. The ground floor was still open and used for the corn exchange. The upper floor was used as a theatre. This occasioned a riot on 30th April. The octagonal toll collector's booth from this period still survives.
Parliament passes The Municipal Corporations Act.
The old self-perpetuating oligarchy was replaced by an elected council. The new council found that the old corporation had, as usual, farmed the markets and fairs, and they were bound by the terms of the existing lease, which did not expire until 1849. The original corn exchange, now the site of the Laura Ashley store, was built. The council gradually acquired more land on St Andrews Street South for the cattle market and fairs. The lease on the market expired.