Description

ST49NW SOMERTON CP MARKET PLACE

9/160 The Market Hall
(formerly listed as the Town
Hall)
17.4.59

GV II

Market and Town Hall. C17 origins. Local lias stone cut and roughly squared, Ham stone dressings; clay pantiled roof
between stepped coped gables with ball finials, ornamental clay tile ridge. Two storeys, 5 bays; south elevation has
offset buttresses up to between-floors string course, which is interrupted by arches and labels to openings; cambered
arched doorway recess bay 1; 4 light chamfered mullioned window with flat head bay 2; semi circular arched doorways
bays 4 and 5; matching mullioned windows with labels to upper bays 1,2,4 and 5. east end has tall 5 light mullioned and
transomed window with semi-circular head; small added porch with coped gable and cambered arched doorway at west end
with smaller 5 light window above, having 4 centre arched head. north side has taller buttresses, and to bays 1 and 2
full height 5 light flat arched mullioned and transomed windows; bay 3 a slightly projecting chimney stack with
offsets, with 2-light window, lower right and similar window lower bay 4; upper bay 4 has 5 light window all on this
side without labels: bay 5 a cambered arched doorway up 3 steps. In north west corner against porch a cast iron pump
and stone bowl. Interior not seen: building undergoing substantial patching externally and interior remodelling (June
1984). The former Shambles House of at least 1688, repaired 1799. By 1841 focus of the meat market, but also used by
local magistrates until 1870- the west porch is a former lock-up. Owned by Lord Ilchester, it was sold to the town in
1913. Included for historical interest and importance in street scene. (VCH, Volume III, 1974).

Listing NGR: ST4906228526

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• The Old Town Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26629609

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide