Description

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SK 3871 SW
1/80

MARKET PLACE
The Market Hall

9.8.76.

GV
II

Architects Davies and Tew. 1857 for Chesterfield Market Company. Byzantine/Italianate influence. Red brick with stone dressings and slate roof. The building forms a hollow rectangle with a covered market in the centre space. Symmetrical eastern facade to Market Place. Two storeyed, three bay centre part - from which rises tall centre tower- flanked by outer three storey one bay wings. Stone quoins and double sill bands at first floor height. Additional stone eaves band from which springs wide corbelled eaves cornice with blocking course above. Rusticated stone pilasters, which flank centre first floor windows, carried up centre tower which has a rectangular cross section with wide faces to east and west. First stage of tower, narrow band of four small windows set in stone panel, moulded cornice above. Very tall paired round arched lights containing louvred panels form second stage which terminates in heavy corbelled eaves cornice rising from stone band, and blocking course raised in centre over clock. Formerly ogee slated cupola surmounted by iron ogee crown and balustrade but this has now been removed.

All windows have stone architraves. Second floor of end wings has triple round arched sashes with glazing bars. Sashes with labels and vertical glazing bars to all 1st floor windows of this facade. Arcaded ground floor with rusticated stone pilasters and stone archivolts. Arcades now generally occupied by shop windows and doors. Centre segmental arch, others round arched. North and south facades also of symmetrical design with slightly advanced three storey end bays. Generally similar windows to those of eastern facade but northern ground floor has a range of altered C19 shop fronts with centre round arched entrance to Market Hall with keystone and wrought iron work filling tympanum. First floor windows of centre section have end sashes flanking five tall round arched windows with glazing bars. Stone archivolts continued as impost band between windows and above end sashes. South facade all of three storeys (greater height under same roof due to sloping ground). Second floor centre has seven pairs of round arches sashes with sill band beneath. First floor has seven sashes with flat lintels. Round arches to ground floor arcade now occupied by small shop fronts, some incorporating decorative pierced cast iron panels. Centre arched entrance to Market Hall with some ironwork in tympanum (added rear two storey later C19 block of no interest).

Interior northern first floor hall with arched windows has ribbed coved ceiling with plaster cornices, tiled bands and panels, some six panelled doors and plain panelling in south range. The Market Hall forms the west side of the Market Place and the centre of the continuous Market Place - New Square space. It is a focal point of views from the entrances into the Market Place particularly those from the east and south and terminates the view along the narrow Shambles. The arcaded south side is particularly important from Central Pavement. The strong horizontal lines of the facade continue similar orizontals formed by the long lines of windows around other three sides of the Market Place. The scale of the Market Hall echoes that of the rest of the Market Place whilst its size and coherent design provide a dominant note emphasized by the tall centre tower. Decorative ref. The Builder Feb 27, 1875 p 182.

Listing NGR: SK3819271088

External Links

• Wikidata Q26380624

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Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)