Warwickshire News Mine

After careful consideration of the historic nature of the building, Listed Building Consent was given for internal and external works which will significantly improve ground floor access and also aim to increase visitor numbers and provide a welcome boost to tourism in the current troubled business climate.

The initial phase of work was carried out in the spring, and the Museum then reopened for the summer season to host the successful “Once in a Blue Moon” exhibition. The Museum has now closed again and will remain closed until early 2010.

The second phase of work will include the relocation of the main doors and new reception counter and shop. When both phases are complete, improvements will include a new, more accessible, main entrance which is moving from the current location to face up Swan Street and which will provide easy street level access for visitors. On entering, visitors will be greeted by staff in a new reception counter & shop area which will be compliant with Disability Discrimination Act standards. External improvements to the glazed arches will also improve the welcome and encourage tourists. The old entrance will be infilled to match the other existing arches.

Care has been taken to minimise the impact on the historic fabric of the Market Hall and proposals have been informed by thorough historical research into the building and consideration of alternatives, including consultation with Warwick Society. 

The relocation of the main entrance to face Swan Street will necessitate the movement of some of the stalls which form the Warwick Charter Market. However plans are being put together to produce an all year round market layout which will benefit regular customers, traders and the market operator E G Skett & Company who will be celebrating 50 years of operating the Saturday market in Warwick in 2009. During the closure period, works will also be managed to avoid any disruption to adjacent traders and with programmed events such as the Mop Fair during October. A reopening date will be confirmed once the programme of work has been finalised.

Simon Robson, Head of Communities & Wellbeing at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Members of the public are still welcome to contact museum staff by telephoning 01926 412500, emailing museum@warwickshire.gov.uk or by visiting St John’s House during opening hours. Updates about the work to Market Hall and the re-opening of the building will be available on the Museum website and further information will be available at St John’s House and on information boards outside The Market Hall.”

History of the Building: The Grade II* Listed Warwick Market Hall lies at the south end of the market place within the Anglo-Saxon and medieval town and within Warwick Conservation Area.  Along with other Listed Buildings around the Market Place it makes a considerable contribution to the historic townscape of Warwick. The current building, which was built in 1670 under the supervision of the Warwickshire craftsman-architect, William Hurlbutt, stands on the site of an earlier, probably medieval, market building, buried remains of which may survive. The building is two storied with an attic and with fine first floor rooms over an arcaded ground floor, originally open and used for market stalls.  Much of the late 17th-century structure still survives.  Through the 18th century the upper floors were rented out for various activities from wild beast shows to wool storage, and in 1836 it was leased to the newly formed Warwickshire Natural History and Archaeological Society for meetings and to house displays.  The ground floor was walled in 1879 and by 1905, when alterations including a new staircase were made, the Museum of the Society had taken over the whole structure.  In 1932 the collections were donated to the County Council who also acquired the building in 1938. The newly renovated Museum opened in 1951.  Further extensive renovations, including reroofing and the reconstruction of the original cupola took place in 1965.

Link to WCC