Buildings - Market House
20 January 2009 10:59
Originally,
there were 3 Market Houses in Ledbury. One was in The
Southend, opposite The Park, the home of the Biddulph
family and another opposite St Katherine's Hospital
Chapel. Neither had rooms above and both were
demolished in about 1820.
The third, The Market House, in High Street, and which was known as Lower or Wheat Market, was built in about 1668 by John Abel. Upon 16 oak pillars, it has a room above. An old deed directs "that the rent of the Market House shall be expended in providing yearly twelve coats or gowns for twelve poor persons of Ledbury, to be delivered every year at Christmas at the direction and appointment of the Rector and Churchwardens".
When the Market House was built, a shop was made under the staircase leading to the upper part of the building and which was let at about £2 a year. However, “ in consequence of its situation rendering it a public nuisance, and that by serving as a wall for the playing at fives", it encouraged the resort of idle and disorderly persons, particularly on Sundays so it was removed by order of the Vestry, August 16th, 1818.
The third, The Market House, in High Street, and which was known as Lower or Wheat Market, was built in about 1668 by John Abel. Upon 16 oak pillars, it has a room above. An old deed directs "that the rent of the Market House shall be expended in providing yearly twelve coats or gowns for twelve poor persons of Ledbury, to be delivered every year at Christmas at the direction and appointment of the Rector and Churchwardens".
When the Market House was built, a shop was made under the staircase leading to the upper part of the building and which was let at about £2 a year. However, “ in consequence of its situation rendering it a public nuisance, and that by serving as a wall for the playing at fives", it encouraged the resort of idle and disorderly persons, particularly on Sundays so it was removed by order of the Vestry, August 16th, 1818.
|