New Market Hall, Bridgnorth
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| New Market Hall | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the New Market Hall area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Grade II listed |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Location | Postern Gate, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°32′4.250″N 2°25′11.557″W / 52.53451389°N 2.41987694°W grid reference SO 71593 93036 |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Robert Griffiths |
The New Market Hall, also known as the New Market Buildings, is a building in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, United Kingdom, built between 1855 and 1859. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
The local authority established Bridgnorth Public Buildings and Market Company Ltd, to build the New Market Hall, intended to accommodate traders and provide assembly rooms and offices.[1][2]
The building was designed by Robert Griffiths of Quatford. Building started in 1855; the site was originally part of a castle moat and had loose infill, so that deep foundations had to be dug, and the buildings were not completed until 1859. It contained shops, market stalls and a butcher's market on the ground floor, and a public hall and library on the floor above.[1]
Traders continued to trade in the street, despite efforts by the local authority including ordering police to clear away stalls. Ten of the traders won a court case against the local authority, in which a medieval charter was cited to establish that they had a right to trade in the open market place.[1][2]
The building was sold by the company established by the local authority, at a loss, and a succession of businesses subsequently occupied the building. From the late 20th century into the early 21st century, there was a Co-Op supermarket on the ground floor, and Bridgnorth Museum of Childhood above. It gained listed status in 1987.[1]
Description
The building is in Italianate style, and has polychrome brickwork in red, white and blue. It has been described as representing "a singular example of a high status mid-19th century commercial building of note within the town". There are two storeys; at the top of the upper floor there is an elaborate entablature, comprising a deep cornice with a Lombard frieze supported by corbels. There is a tower at the north-eastern end, giving a third storey, where below the roof the entablature includes a miniature arcade.[1][2]
Present day
In more recent years, the building has fallen into disrepair. A petition was launched by a local resident in August 2024, noting this and stating: "If the owner does not make repairs within a reasonable timeframe, we call for a Compulsory Purchase Order to bring the building back into public ownership." The petition had collected over 1,500 signatures by February 2025, successfully triggering a Shropshire Council debate.[3] Shropshire Council commented that it was aware of the issues relating to the building and was in contact with the owner, but efforts to engage the owner were proving unsuccessful.[4][5]
In April 2026, The Victorian Society added the building to their Top Ten Endangered Buildings list for 2026. The list entry urges the owner to bring forward a viable scheme to put the building back into use, or to place the building on the market to allow a new custodian to secure its future. Support has also been received from Victorian Society president, Griff Rhys Jones.[6]
