Corn Exchange, Bridgwater

As early as the 14th century, there was a shambles for the sale of farm products on Cornhill.[2] In the late 18th century, local merchants decided to commission a purpose-built "corn market": this was a rectangular structure built in brick and completed in 1791.[3]

After the north and south sides of the corn market were demolished to facilitate road widening in 1825, the building was remodelled, to a design by John Bowen in the neoclassical style, and encased in ashlar stone in 1834.[4] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays onto Cornhill. The central bay featured a prominent circular portico formed by a colonnade of Ionic order columns supporting an entablature, a cornice, and a parapet. The portico was surmounted by a drum-shaped structure, with panels decorated by paterae, topped by a dome, a hexagonal roof lantern and a finial. The finial incorporated a finely carved pineapple in its design.[5] The outer bays, which were slightly projected forward, contained openings flanked by Ionic order columns in antis supporting an entablature and a parapet.[1] The architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner, was impressed with the design which he described as "just right in scale and modest formality for a county town of some pride and traditions".[6]

The market hall behind was extended to the west, to a design by Charles Knowles, in 1875.[7][8] Railings, which originally surrounded the building to separate the livestock from the food produce, were removed in 1895.[9] A statue of the 17th-century naval commander Robert Blake, who was born in the town, was designed by F. W. Pomeroy and installed in front of the building in 1898.[10] However, the use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century.[11]

A major programme of refurbishment works, which allowed additional retail units to be introduced into the complex, was completed in 1985,[2] and the statue of Blake was moved further to the east, as part of a pedestrianisation scheme, at that time.[12] A chain restaurant was established in the building in the early 21st century.[13]

• Corn exchanges in England
• Grade I listed buildings in Sedgemoor