Corn Exchange, Bridgwater

Corn Exchange

Statue of figure with outsretched arm. To the left a tall church spire and to the right a circular building with columns.

Corn Exchange, Church of St Mary and statue of Robert Blake
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or city Bridgwater
Country England
Coordinates 51°07′40″N 3°00′09″W / 51.1278°N 3.0025°WCoordinates: 51°07′40″N 3°00′09″W / 51.1278°N 3.0025°W
Construction started 1834
Completed 1875

The Corn Exchange and market house in Bridgwater, Somerset, England was built in 1834 by John Bowen and extended in 1875,[1] by Charles Knowles. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[2]

The original market hall, which dates from 1791,[3] is fronted by a circular portico with a domed roof with Tuscan pillars.[2] The destinctive portico was added after the north and south sides of the corn market were demolished for road widening in 1825.[4]

It was originally surrounded by railings to separate the livestock from the food produce. The railings were removed in 1895.[5]

In front of the building is a statue of Robert Blake who was born in the town. The statue was made in 1898 by D W Pomeroy and has since been repositioned to face down Cornhill.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gathercole, Clare. "Bridgwater Archaeological Assessment". Somerset Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. p. 18. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Corn Exchange/Market House and attached railings". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  3. ↑ Lambert, Tim. "Bridgwater". Local Histories. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. ↑ Dunning, Robert; Elrington, C R; Baggs, A P; Siraut, M C (1992). "Volume 6: Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and neighbouring parishes)". A History of the County of Somerset:. British History Online. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "The Cornhill". Bridgwater Somerset. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Blake Statue". Images of England. Retrieved 30 October 2007.