Corn Exchange, Thrapston

The Corn Exchange is a commercial building in the High Street in Thrapston, Northamptonshire, England. The structure, which is now used as the offices of a local firm of auctioneers and estate agents, is a Grade II listed building.[1]

Corn Exchange, Thrapston
Corn Exchange, Thrapston
LocationHigh Street, Thrapston
Coordinates52.3971°N 0.5373°W / 52.3971; -0.5373
Builtc.1750
Architectural style(s)Vernacular style
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameNumbers 47 (Corn Exchange), 49 and 51
Designated6 June 1986
Reference no.1226805
Corn Exchange, Thrapston is located in Northamptonshire
Corn Exchange, Thrapston
Shown in Northamptonshire

History

The building was originally commissioned as a public house known as The George Inn and was built in rubble masonry in around 1750. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto the High Street.[1] Following the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, a locally-born designer and hydraulic engineer, Freeman Roe, whose offices were in The Strand in London, decided to initiate a major remodelling of the building to create a corn exchange.[2][3]

The foundation stone for the remodelled structure was laid on 5 October 1850.[4] The works, which were carried out by a local contractor, John Eaton,[5] involved the construction of a new doorway, which was flanked by stone panels inscribed with the words "Corn Exchange" and by brackets supporting a pediment containing a carved wheatsheaf and two scythes. The outer bays on the ground floor and all the bays on the first floor were newly fenestrated with sash windows. An additional entrance was installed to the right: it was flanked by Doric order columns supporting an entablature, inscribed with the words "Erected by F. Roe 1850", a dentilled cornice and carvings of a plough and a wheatsheaf.[6] Internally, the principal room was a new main hall which was 50 feet (15 m) long and 35 feet (11 m) wide[4] and capable of accommodating 400 people.[7]

Roe went on to design the Manchester Fountains in front of the Manchester Lunatic Hospital in Piccadilly Gardens for Queen Victoria's visit to Manchester in October 1851.[8][9]

The building was also used for public events including lectures[10] and speeches. The Conservative Party candidate, Brownlow Cecil, delivered a speech in the main hall during the 1877 North Northamptonshire by-election.[11] 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.[12] In 1900, the building was acquired by a local firm of auctioneers and estate agents, Terrence Hodgkins Associates, later rebranded as Hodgkins Boden Associates.[7][13] However, the main hall has continued to be hired out for public events such as local fairs.[14]

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Numbers 47 (Corn Exchange), 49 and 51 (1226805)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. Post office directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, with Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Huntingdonshire. Kelly's Directories. 1869. p. 138.
  3. "Thrapston Heritage Trail" (PDF). Nene Valley.net. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. Notes in the Provinces. 12 October 1850. p. 487. Retrieved 31 July 2023. {{cite book}}: |newspaper= ignored (help)
  5. "To Correspondents". The Builder. 9 November 1850. p. 539. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (2002). Northamptonshire (Buildings of England Series). Yale University Press. p. 431. ISBN 978-0300096323.
  7. "Countryside Walks: Thrapston and Islip" (PDF). Northamptonshire Countryside Services. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. Dyos, Harold James; Wolff, Michael (1999). The Victorian City Images and Realities. Vol. 1. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415193238.
  9. "Manchester Fountains on the occasion of Queen Victoria's visit, 10 October 1951". Royal Institute of British Architects. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. The Jewish Herald and Record of Christian Effort for the spiritual good of God's ancient people. The British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews. 1855. p. 190.
  11. "The North Northamptonshire Election". The Spectator. 18 August 1877. p. 1027. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. Fletcher, T. W. (1973). 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in British Agriculture 1875-1914. London: Methuen. p. 31. ISBN 978-1136581182.
  13. "Terrence Hodgkins Associates". Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  14. "A Housewife's Fair". Thrapston Heritage. 31 January 1929. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
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