Benchmark, The Corn Exchange - Ipswich, Suffolk - U.K. and Ireland Trigpoints on Waymarking.com

A cut benchmark on what used to be the Ipswich Corn Exchange, now a 'Little Waitrose'

History:
"The Corn Exchange, built at a cost of £33,000 and opened in March 1812, has a forbidding appearance. Its exterior was jail-like, the openings in the walls being grated with heavy iron bars. The interior was open to the sky and merchants and others were sheltered from the rain merely round the sides of the buildings.

In July 1849 a number of merchants asked the Council to heighten its walls, roof it with glass, convert the iron gratins to windows and clear away the corner shops. A schemer costing about £1,100 was eventually agreed, which involved a virtual rebuilding since the walls were taken down to ground level.

During the 1860's the Corn Exchange was becoming crowded on market days and the Council began to consider various alternatives, including the possibility of converting the Public Hall. In 1879 the Council decided to acquire the King Street site at the rear of the Town Hall for £12,000.

This time the Council did not get into any difficulty over the architectural competition as there was widespread agreement in favour of the design (one of 15) entered by Brightwen Binyon under the nom-de-plume "North Light". Building started in the autumn of 1880. The foundation stone was laid on 22nd October 1880 by Mayor D. H. Booth. The cost of the building was £25,000. In July 1882 the hoardings round the new Corn Exchange were cleared away and although the roadway at King Street had not been surfaced the public footpath was open. It was opened on 26th July 1882 by Mayor Frederick Fish.

In August 1888 the fruit and vegetable market was transferred from Falcon Street to the Corn Exchange where it remained until November 1970. The last Corn Market was held at the Corn Exchange on 29th June 1972.

During 1971 it was decided to remodel the Corn Exchange. The main requirements were for meeting, exhibitions, shows and other spectator events. The cost of remodelling was £800,000. The 'new' Corn Exchange was opened by the Duke of Gloucester on 22nd September 1975. The Grand Hall is used for live shows by touring companies and local groups, keep fit, discos, dances and dinners, an annual beer festival in September, etc. The Robert Cross Hall is used mainly for craft fairs, exhibitions (art and photographic) and late night musical entertainment."

SOURCE - (visit link)

Type of Trigpoint: Cut Bench Mark Condition: Slightly Damaged Number on Flush Bracket: N/A

Visit Instructions:
A photo should be taken when you visit, and added to the log.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   04/30/2022 Master Mariner visited it