It has been home to bartering, banter and even a boxing ring and now a wealth of new opportunities awaits Gravesend Borough Market.

As our photograph shows, a £1.6 million regeneration project has started in earnest since the doors to this historical landmark building closed in June.

Stalls have been removed and partition walls pulled down to reveal a vast space with magnificent flagstone tiles.

For hundreds of years, the market hall was the hub of town life where stallholders plied their wares day and night, politicians met to discuss important issues, and revellers danced, enjoyed pageants or even roller-skated across the slightly sloping floor.

The covered building as we see it today was also used during the Second World War to store furniture for families whose homes had been bombed.

Sadly, the hustle and bustle slowly petered out over the years as supermarket giants moved into high streets and shoppers started to show more loyalty to out-of-town malls.

Earlier this year, however, Gravesham Borough Council secured a lottery grant to revamp the market site, which dates back to 1268.

Improvements are expected to include a new entrance canopy in Market Square, glazed lights in the hall roof, stalls with roller shutters and a new toilet block.

As part of its bid to breathe new life into the market, Gravesham council, together with retail market consultant Quarterbridge, sought the views of shoppers, residents and visitors.

An online survey posed questions such as why people come into town, how long they spent there and what stalls and products they would like to see in the new-look market hall.

A council spokesman said that the 500 responses, one of the highest numbers Quarterbridge has experienced, would now be part of the development process but it was “premature” to say what the outcome or consensus was.

“We have employed market experts as consultants and, while the public consultation has finished, we await their report before taking any decisions,” he added.

“Obviously the public views will be taken into account but we do not know details of any recommendations yet.”

Council bosses described Quarterbridge as market leaders in regenerating town centre markets when they agreed to the firm’s £13,000 business plan designed to increase footfall and revenue at the market once the refurbishment is completed.

Work includes finding the right mix of businesses, setting up an annual programme of events and setting rents for traders.

Council leader John Cubitt (Con) stressed at the time it was important to gain the group’s “expertise” to make the most of the ambitious project.

Many of the stalls housed in the market have been relocated to the St George’s Shopping Centre while the refurbishment is carried out.