Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 09 July 1880
Opening of the Mexboro’ Market Hall and Local Board Offices.
Particulars of the Building.
On Tuesday, the new Market Hall and Local Board Offices—the foundation stone of which was laid in September, 1879, by P. Waddington, Esq., Chairman of the Board—were opened by Joel Kirby, Esq., of Mexborough, the same gentleman who, 30 years ago, performed the opening ceremony at Norfolk-street Market Hall, Sheffield.
The building is situated at the junction of Station-road, Market-street, and Oxford-road, and is upon the site of the open air market, which was also opened by Mr. Kirby in 1878, the land being leased at that time from the Lord of the Manor, at a yearly rental of £19 14s. 6d., for the term of 800 years, it being specially defined in the lease that after the expiration of seven years there should be a covered market, to be built to the satisfaction of the Lord of the Manor, and to be insured against fire, and that if in ten years afterwards the Market Hall proved to be deficient in size, and the Local Board did not comply with the terms of the lease, he, Andrew Montagu, Esq., shall have the right to sell in some other part of the town on his own property.
The members of the Beard very much questioned whether it would be advisable to go to the expense of building a covered market, and for fully three years were undecided what to do. It was chiefly through the spirit manifested by Mr. Joel Kirby, that the Board at last decided upon having the Hall, he being sanguine that the Market Hall would pay, and even expressed his readiness to take it at 6 per cent. The Board considered that it would not be right for the market to be built for the benefit of a private individual, and after serious consideration they decided to have the plans drawn.
The premium plan was designed by Messrs. Tacon and Rawson, architects, of Rotherham, and submitted to the Local Government Board. But it was not approved of, the Board in London considering that it would be too expensive a structure. A second plan was drawn by them, but with the same result. The Board at this time appointed a Surveyor, Mr. George White, of Dronfield, who acted as architect, the plan drawn by him receiving the sanction of the Government Board. As soon as the reply from London was received, the work commenced, being completed a fortnight ego, at a cost of about £4,000, the sum sanctioned by the Local Government Board.
The Market Mall is built on much the same principle as the one at Sheffield, although of course on a smaller scale. The Hall is 93ft. long and 57 ft. wide, being 20ft in height from the floor to the wall plate. Underneath are good cellars for storage, as well as a weighman’s office. Internally the Hall comprizes 10 butchers’ shops, 10 provision and pork shops, with 18 stalls down the centre, and at the north end there are four basket stands.
At each shop there are jets of gas and a meter, which has to be paid for by the tenant. From the roof hangs seven pendants, with six lights, so that the place will be well lit, and water is provided from the Mexborough Water Company’s works by means of a stand pipe. Light is also admitted into the Hall from the roof, at each side of the middle, it being of glass the whole length of the market. Iron girders support the roof. Entrance to the hall is effected from the east, south, and west sides, at the former by a flight of steps, the ground being lower than on the opposite side.
In addition to the Market Hall, there are at the north end several offices, to be used for Local Board purposes. On entering the doorway there is a long passage, 5ft. 6in width, with the Surveyor’s office on one side, and the Clerk’s and Collector’s offices on the other. The Surveyor’s office comprises an area of 36 sqare yards, and the other two of 19 yards each. Passing through the door at the far end of the Surveyor’s room, there is a lavatory and water closet, well fitted up, and, descending half-a dozen steps there is a coal cellar. There is also a large safe in this room, where the books of the Local Board will be kept.
At the east end of the passage there are a flight of 25 stone steps, 6ft wide, from the top of which a grand view of old Denaby and the rural country around can be obtained. Turning to the left there is a spacious room which is at present to be used for meetings of the Local Board. Its total extent is 100 square yards. Light is admitted through five windows, 7ft. 6in., by 5ft., and from the ceiling are suspended three chandeliers, with four burners on each. It is estimated that the room will easily hold 200 people, it has been well fitted up. The chief idea in having this large room was that it would ultimately be used for magisterial and county court purposes. And it is mooted that efforts will shortly be made to obtain these privileges, which the inhabitants think they are justly entitled to.
The Market Hall and Offices were erected by Messrs. Wortley Brothers, of Kilnhurst, and the cost just comes to about the sum sanctioned by the Local Government Board, viz: £4,000. The roofing was let to Messrs. Haggard and Bunby, of Mextorough and Rotherham, it being constructed by the noted firm of Messrs Handersides, of Derby, at a cost of about £700. Mr. Charles Hughes, of Mexboro’, has been entrusted with the painting, and Mr. J. Priestley, of the same place, has done the woodwork, the whole being under the supervision of Mr. T. Saul, of Mexboro’, clerk of works. We are sure everything has been done in a very creditable manner, and all concerned in the erection of the Market, etc., must be given a good word, for the satisfactory way in which the work has been carried out.
It should be stated that Mr. Saul was the designer of the shops in the Market, and that Mr. T. Scrivens, of Doncaster, did the carving work over the entrance doors, consisting of a bull, head, a ram’s head, and a pig’s head, respectively, each being relieved with fruit and foliage.
We might state that the stalls in the Market are let by monthly tenancies, the prices being: shops 2s. to 4s. 6d., stalls 1s.9d to to 2s., and all of them have been taken.
From the commencement of the open-air market the amount of profit rose gradually from £50 to £90 per annum, and in 1879 it rose to £100; so that it is fully expected with the advantages of a covered market, that the revenue of the town will be considerably benefited. The income from stalls and shops in the Market Hall will be £5 7s. 6d. per week, so that, with receipts from the cellars, pannellings, etc., the total income per annum will be about £320.
The ratepayers are greatly indebted to the Lord of the Manor for his very favourable lease, and, in fact, they are for many things which he has done for the town, plainly manifesting the interest which he feels in the inhabitants and the success which he desires for the place.
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