Information for record number MWA1934:
Market Hall, Market Place, Warwick

Summary Warwick Market Hall was built of sandstone in the 17th century. Areas were rented to tradesmen, and there was a small prison on the ground floor. Markets were held here until 1905, after which the whole building became a museum. It is located in Market Place.
What Is It?  
Type: Market Hall, Prison
Period: Post-medieval (1540 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 64
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: II*)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 1670: A committee was set up to bargain for stone to erect a Market House. It was built on stone pillars and from 1700 parts were rented to tradesmen. In the centre of the ground floor was a small prison where, until 1848, prisoners were kept. In 1840 the Warwickshire Natural History and Archaeological Society acquired the use of the upper rooms. About 1880 the Arches were filled in with glass but markets continued to be held underneath until 1905. Thereforward the whole building was used as a museum. The hall is of local sandstone ashlar, three bays long and five bays wide.
2 1670 by William Hurlbutt. Free-standing. Two storeys with hipped roof. Cupola and balustrade were rebuilt in 1965.
5 The Market Hall was de-scheduled in 1993.
6 Text for the Borough Guide.
7 Drawing of cupola.
8 Information sheet about work on the Market Hall in 1965.
9 Investigations in the attic of Market Hall revealed an apparently original fireplace on the southeast side of the central stack. The fireplace had been blocked with early mid-19th century brickwork. With two or three fireplaces on the first floor, this would make a total of three or four in the building, although Hearth Tax was paid only for one in 1674. It is possible, however, that the extra tax was paid by tenants.
10The investigation revealed the morphology of the building since its first apperant use in the 11th century using Archaeological and historical evidence
 
Sources

Source No:
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Archaeologocal Assessment of the Market Hall, Market Place, Warwick
Author/originator: Coutts C; Jones,C
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 0643
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Archaeologocal Assessment of the Market Hall, Market Place, Warwick
Author/originator: Coutts C; Jones,C
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 0643
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 8, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pugh R B (ed)
Date: 1969
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 8
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Drawing
Title: Market Hall, Warwick
Author/originator: Tibbits, E. G.
Date: 1949
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: The Market Hall, Warwick
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1970
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: The Market Hall, Warwick
Author/originator: WCC
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA (West Midlands Archaeology) vol 50
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2007
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Market Hall, Warwick
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM List 1983
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Market Hall, Warwick
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1993
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
The Market Hall Museum, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2001
Click here for larger image  
 
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
back
source SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more ->
back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument PRISON * An establishment where offenders are confined. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument BALUSTRADE * A row of balusters, usually made of stone, surmounted by a rail or coping. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument MARKET * An open space or covered building in which cattle, goods, etc, are displayed for sale. back
monument MARKET HOUSE * A market building, pre-19th century, incorporating other function rooms, eg. theatres, courtrooms, schoolrooms. back
monument HEARTH * The slab or place on which a fire is made. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument MARKET HALL * A purpose built covered market hall, usually 19th century, although earlier examples do exist, eg. that at Abingdon, Oxfordshire c.1680. back
monument MARKET PLACE * An area, often consisting of widened streets or a town square, where booths and stalls may be erected for public sales. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record