Corn exchanges in England


In England, corn exchanges are distinct buildings which were originally created as a venue for corn merchants to meet and arrange pricing with farmers for the sale of wheat, barley and other corn crops. The word "corn" in British English denotes all cereal grains, such as wheat and barley. With the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, a large number of corn exchanges were built, particularly in the corn-growing areas of Eastern England. However, with the fall in price of English corn as a result of cheap imports, corn exchanges virtually ceased to be built after the 1870s. Increasingly they were put to other uses, particularly as meeting and concert halls. Many found a new lease of life in the early 20th century as cinemas, Following the Second World War, many could not be maintained and they were demolished. In the 1970s their architectural importance came to be appreciated, and most of the surviving examples are listed buildings. Most of the surviving corn exchanges have now been restored, and many have become arts centres, theatres or concert halls.

Early corn exchanges

Corn exchanges were initially held as open markets normally controlled by the town or city authorities. Corn exchanges start appearing in the earlier part of the 18th century. At Bristol corn was sometimes traded at the Exchange Buildings in conjunction with other goods and produce. The Bristol Exchange was built to the designs of the Bath architect John Wood, the Elder in 1741–1743. Wood also designed the equally impressive exchange in Liverpool in 1749–1754. In London the earliest covered corn exchange building was built in 1747 in Mark Lane. At Brighton a corn exchange was built as part of the Royal Pavilion. Other corn exchanges followed with Norwich, Sheffield , Stowmarket , Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Many of the early corn exchanges, such as Hadleigh and Winchester, were built round quadrangles where the trading took place, but the central area was roofed over at a later date.

After the repeal of the Corn Laws

It was the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 which led to an explosion in corn exchange building. This also coincided with the boom in railway building, resulting in the easier transportation of corn. In some towns the corn exchanges were built by the civic authorities but in others speculative Market Companies were set up to promote the trading of corn. Considerable civic and commercial rivalry ensued and in the small market town of Market Rasen in Lincolnshire two corn exchanges were built in 1854. As these corn exchanges were rarely operating for more than two hours in a week, the buildings would be let out for many other purposes including public meetings concerts and dances. With the Great Depression of British Agriculture, which occurred from about 1873 to 1893, the building of new corn exchanges had largely ceased by 1880. The building of new exchanges was limited to re-building earlier exchanges, normally as part of larger market schemes.

Corn exchanges in the 20th century

In the 20th. century Corn Markets were often also used as cinemas or for venues for roller skating or wrestling. in the later part of the 1950s the following two decades they had often become dilapidated and uneconomic to maintain. This resulted in the widespread demolition of many corn exchanges, particularly in smaller market towns. However, an increasing appreciation of their architectural merit led to many becoming Listed Buildings. More recently many have been renovated by local authorities or community trusts as Arts venues. Many of the smaller exchanges had ceased trading by the start of the 20th century. However, the larger centres continued to grow and the corn exchange at Lincoln recorded its busiest trading year in 1924. After the Second World War the larger markets gradually closed. Lincoln ceased trading in 1984 and Leeds continued until 1995.

Corn exchanges listed by [Ceremonial Counties of England]

Bedfordshire


Market Rasen had two corn exchanges. Two sites were selected and building went ahead with Queen Street Market Hall, designed by Henry Goddard of Lincoln in 1854. A rival faction then went ahead at the same time with a Market Hall designed by Bellamy and Hardy, and the original drawing for this survives. The drawing shows a building with a corner portico and Doric columns and Venetian windows on two sides of the building. The building was modified when built and there was an open cupola over the portico. This building opened in September 1854. The two corn exchanges were merged in 1856 and the Market Place building became a Market Hall. For a time it was used as a town hall and in 1914 it was converted into the Picturedrome cinema. It was demolished in 1960.