Building record 0168900000 - MARKET HALL, HIGH STREET

Plan Form - Rectangular.
Market hall in High Street Amersham built 1682 by Sir Wm Drake (recorded on tablet at W end). Brick, on arched pillars, (see full description)(B2,B5).
Lower part used for market, upper part owned by Drakes, used as parish school C19 (B2).
Later used for meetings but not used as town hall (B6).
Grade II+. 1682, slightly restored 1911. Ground floor red brick, 1st floor red stretchers grey headers, lead hipped old tile roof with octagonal wooden cupola consisting of drum with clock face, round headed open arcade, flattened conical roof and gilded ball and weather vane; modillion cornice. Stone quoins, floor band, imposts and keyblocks. Ground floor round headed open arcading blocked by staircases in north east and north west corners. First floor has six large 2-light wood mullion and transom casements with flat arches; in centre is projecting cartouche supported by moulding and console and containing achievement with crest of raised forearm and hand holding metal axe. 1st floor side elevations each have central raised stone panel carved with Drake monogram and date 1682. Towards north end of east side wall is pump with lead head dated 1785. (RCHM I p4 MON 7). (B8).
Apparently used by the boys of Dr Challoner's Grammar School until 1905 (B9).
Also used by the boys of Cheyne's Writing School, and in 1867 76 boys were being taught there (B10).
Building recording of the clock tower carried out by Archaeological Building Recording Services in December 2021 and February 2022 in advance of conservation works suggest that the clock tower was added in the early 18th century, perhaps on the buildings' 50th anniversary and that there had subsequently been a number of phases of repairs. See report for detail (B11).





[SU 95759732] Town Hall [TI] (1)

Market Hall, built by Sir William Drake of Shardeloes, in 1682, as recorded on a stone tablet at the W. end of the building, is rectangular, of two storeys, the walls of brick with stone
dressings, the roof tiled. The open, lower storey, stone-paved, has on each of the longer sides an arcade of six bays with rectangular brick piers and plain semi-circular arches with stone keys, a stone string at the springing and another above the arches; the stone quoins have rusticated joints. The upper storey, of red and blue bricks with cemented quoins, has six square windows on each side, withwood frames, mullions and transoms, and iron casements with square leaded panes. On the N. side the E. bay of the lower storey is blocked by the stairs and lock-up, and three first-floor windows are blocked. At the W. end is an arcade of two bays, with two blocked windows above, the E. end is similar. Under the eaves is a wood cornice with modillions, the roof is hipped at each end and flat at the top, with an octangonal wood turret in the middle. The turret has an arched opening on each side, and a pyramidal lead roof with turned finial. Inside are some original hand-rails and balusters; the roof is of oak, with large king-posts trusses. The interior needs general repair,and holes in the roof expose the timbers to the weather. [AO/59/339/1][appended is a note:] Since this account was written the Market Hall has been completely restored (Dec. 1911) (B5).

The Market Hall built in 1682 succeeded the building on which in 1653 were posted up scandalous papers tending to the disturbance of the poor (B4).

'... 1682, slightly restored 1911. Pleasant design, proportions probably better when road and paving were lower. Ground floor red brick, 1st floor red stretchers grey headers, lead hipped old tile roof with cupola and good stone modillion cornice. Stone details also include quoins, band, imposts and keys. Ground floor round headed open arcading blocked by staircases in NE and NW corners. 1st floor has 6 large 2 light wood mullion and transom casements with flat arches; in centre is projecting cartouche supported by moulding and console and containing achievement with crest of raised forearm and hand holding metal axe. 1st floor side elevations each have central raised stone panel carved with monogram and date 1682. Octoganal wooden cupola consists of drum with clock face, round headed open arcade, flattened conical roof and gilded ball and weather vane. Towards N. end of E. side wall is pump with lead head dated 1785. Grade II' [Refs. to auths. 2 and 3 and N.B.R.] (B13).

Scheduled Ancient Monument - Market Hall. (B14)

This former Market Hall is no longer used as a Market, the arcaded ground floor is unused but the room above is let out for private meetings, receptions etc. It is, as it has always been, private (part of the Shardeloe Estate) not council property, and, as far as can be determined, never used as the Town Hall, but the administrators of the estate are prepared to see the name continue to be published as 'Town Hall'. Condition: fairly good. (B15)

NRHE insert 1998 update 1997 (B16).