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© Mr Alan Bradley LRPS
IoE Number:
385723
Location:
TOWN HALL, MARKET PLACE
BISHOP AUCKLAND, WEAR VALLEY, DURHAM
Photographer:
Mr Alan Bradley LRPS
Date Photographed:
08 April 2001
Date listed:
20 September 1972
Date of last amendment:
20 September 1972
Grade
II*
The Images of England website consists of images of listed buildings based on the statutory list as it was in 2001 and does not incorporate subsequent amendments to the list. For the statutory list and information on the current listed status of individual buildings please go to The National Heritage List for England.
BISHOP AUCKLAND
NZ2130 MARKET PLACE
634-1/8/96 Town Hall
20/09/72
GV II*
Town hall and market, with reading room and assembly room,
originally incorporating 2 shops. In process of conversion to
community centre and library. 1860-62. By JP Jones. For Bishop
Auckland Town Hall and Market Company Ltd. Design modified by
John Johnstone of Newcastle. C20 internal alterations.
MATERIALS: coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings,
and Welsh slate roof with bands of fishscale.
PLAN: Gothic Revival style. Symmetrical.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 6x8 windows. Paired 2-centred arches in
central bays have wide pilasters with elaborate foliage
capitals. Left arch blocked and containing 2-light window with
2-centred heads in stone lintel. 3 large moulded stone
brackets over pilasters support first-floor pierced stone
balcony. Former shops flanking entrance each have 4-panelled
double doors and overlights flanked by paired windows, all
with shouldered heads and nookshafts. First-floor string.
Aprons and sloping sills to tall first-floor windows which
have pointed arches and plate tracery, with 2 shouldered
lights below transom formed by impost string on which
dripmoulds rest. Central pair open onto balcony. Eaves corbel
table.
Steeply pitched hipped roofs over outer pairs of bays linked
by ridge of principal roof with high central octagonal louvred
lantern, with 8 lucarnes at base of tall spirelet. Gabled
clock faces in east and west fronts of base to lantern. Tall
gabled 2-light dormers in main roof have roundels in gable
peaks; lancets in 3 stepped lucarnes in flanking hipped roofs
which have ornamental cast-iron crestings. Long left return in
similar style but without central emphasis.
INTERIOR shows ribbed quadripartite vaults, with leaf
terminals, to entrance arches. Central covered market hall has
small shop units opening off, most altered but some with
cast-iron piers visible, and one with small corner cast-iron
fire surround. Main and subsidiary stairs have iron balusters
with hollow-moulded corners supporting moulded handrail,
wreathed at foot on fluted newel. Hall along front on first
floor has wave-moulded frieze and hammer-beam roof, shallow
north apse with fluted Corinthian pilasters and shallow
segmental head to proscenium arch. Proscenium arch in front,
c1960 is to be removed in current restoration. Council chamber
inserted over covered market has borough arms in stained glass
of windows high in wall. Interior being altered at time of
survey (1991).
(Builder: April 1860: 210-211; ; Views of Bishop Auckland
1860-67: UD/BA/238).