COLLECTION NAME:
SHIMMER
mediaCollectionId
SHU~3~3
SHIMMER
Collection
true
Title:
Corn Exchange and Concert Hall
title
Corn Exchange and Concert Hall
Title
false
Creation Date:
1873
creation_date
1873
Creation Date
false
Image Date:
2002
image_date
2002
Image Date
false
Period:
19th century
period
19th century
Period
false
Location:
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
location
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Location
false
Country:
ENGLAND, UK
country
ENGLAND, UK
Country
false
Material:
sandstone - red Mansfield , granite - red - pilasters
material
sandstone - red Mansfield , granite - red - pilasters
Material
false
Display Creator:
WATKINS, Williams
display_creator
WATKINS, Williams
Display Creator
false
Image ID:
05-0431
image_id
05-0431
Image ID
false
Description:
Columns and relief sculpture over main entrance.sculpture on Corn Exchange (Genius presiding over the industries of the county [1]) Location: Market Place, Corn Exchange Description: In the tympanum over the principal entrance to the building is a sculptural relief showing three female figures in classical robes. The central, winged, figure is offering a wreath to the heads of the lower seated figures, and is supported by the keystone of the arch on which is carved the Borough Arms. Behind the lower left figure, who holds a sickle in her left hand and has her right arm around a sheaf of wheat, is a representation of Doncaster Guild-hall. Behind the woman on the right is a view of the Mansion House,; she has a right hand on a roll of carpet and her left rests on the head of a cow. Described in the local newspapers as "a Genius ... presiding over and rewarding the special industries of the county. The figure on the left, symbolising architecture ... On the right is another figure with the symbols of cattle, wool, flax, and hemp..". Definition of genius - see Sheardown. The coats of arms of the four county towns who were the principal traders with Doncaster markets, York, Lincoln, Derby and Nottingham, are represented on shields by the circular windows of the building,s staircases. [2] Inscription: Beneath the coat of arms on the keystone of the entrance arch: CONFORT ET LIESSE Commission: On 22 May 1866, the architect W. Watkins won a competition, inaugurated by Doncaster Town Council, for his design for the Corn Exchange and with it the 1st prize of £100. It was not until 9 February 1870 that the Council decided at a public meeting to proceed with the building. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, A.J. Smith, on 22 September 1870 and the building formally opened on 17 April, 1873. The delay seems to have been caused by the prior need to erect new Cattle Markets and abattoirs nearby. Contractors for the various parts of the buildings were for the most part local; the builders being Athron's of Doncaster. The only mention of sculptural responsibility occurs in the Doncaster Gazette where the last entry in a list of the various contractors for the building states: " .. carvers: C.H. & J. Mabey of Westminster." Later in the same article the total cost of the New Corn Exchange was estimated as being not "much less than £25,000". [3] Comment: It has been widely for centuries believed in Doncaster that this particular site was first used as a market by the Romans. [4] The markets have long been held an important feature of Doncaster's social and commercial life, this belief being reflected in the detailed and specific elements in this carving. The Corn Exchange is attached on three sides to other market halls; there being over 500 stalls trading in this area. After a fire destroyed the glass roof and the main interior of the Corn Exchange, there was considerable antagonism towards a Council plan to redevelop the Corn Exchange as an arts venue, despite the fact that the Corn Exchange was originally also designed as a venue for where concerts, exhibitions and public meetings could be held. The building's opening ceremony had been celebrated with a public concert. This building was erected on the former site of the Wheat Cross, a round stone column, surmounted by a ball and set on a circular flagged base which was erected in 1679 [6] . Both this and the nearby Butter Cross were demolished by 1846 to make space for the complex of Market Buildings now on the site. References: [1] Sheardown, W. (1872) The Marts and Markets, at Doncaster: Their Rise and Progress and Sources of Supply. p. 53. The Doncaster Gazette. Facsimile reprint 1979. Doncaster Library Service. [2] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.49 [3] The Doncaster Chronicle Friday 18 April 1873 p.8 " The New Corn Exchange" [4] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.22 [5] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.43.
description
Columns and relief sculpture over main entrance.sculpture on Corn Exchange (Genius presiding over the industries of the county [1]) Location: Market Place, Corn Exchange Description: In the tympanum over the principal entrance to the building is a sculptural relief showing three female figures in classical robes. The central, winged, figure is offering a wreath to the heads of the lower seated figures, and is supported by the keystone of the arch on which is carved the Borough Arms. Behind the lower left figure, who holds a sickle in her left hand and has her right arm around a sheaf of wheat, is a representation of Doncaster Guild-hall. Behind the woman on the right is a view of the Mansion House,; she has a right hand on a roll of carpet and her left rests on the head of a cow. Described in the local newspapers as "a Genius ... presiding over and rewarding the special industries of the county. The figure on the left, symbolising architecture ... On the right is another figure with the symbols of cattle, wool, flax, and hemp..". Definition of genius - see Sheardown. The coats of arms of the four county towns who were the principal traders with Doncaster markets, York, Lincoln, Derby and Nottingham, are represented on shields by the circular windows of the building,s staircases. [2] Inscription: Beneath the coat of arms on the keystone of the entrance arch: CONFORT ET LIESSE Commission: On 22 May 1866, the architect W. Watkins won a competition, inaugurated by Doncaster Town Council, for his design for the Corn Exchange and with it the 1st prize of £100. It was not until 9 February 1870 that the Council decided at a public meeting to proceed with the building. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, A.J. Smith, on 22 September 1870 and the building formally opened on 17 April, 1873. The delay seems to have been caused by the prior need to erect new Cattle Markets and abattoirs nearby. Contractors for the various parts of the buildings were for the most part local; the builders being Athron's of Doncaster. The only mention of sculptural responsibility occurs in the Doncaster Gazette where the last entry in a list of the various contractors for the building states: " .. carvers: C.H. & J. Mabey of Westminster." Later in the same article the total cost of the New Corn Exchange was estimated as being not "much less than £25,000". [3] Comment: It has been widely for centuries believed in Doncaster that this particular site was first used as a market by the Romans. [4] The markets have long been held an important feature of Doncaster's social and commercial life, this belief being reflected in the detailed and specific elements in this carving. The Corn Exchange is attached on three sides to other market halls; there being over 500 stalls trading in this area. After a fire destroyed the glass roof and the main interior of the Corn Exchange, there was considerable antagonism towards a Council plan to redevelop the Corn Exchange as an arts venue, despite the fact that the Corn Exchange was originally also designed as a venue for where concerts, exhibitions and public meetings could be held. The building's opening ceremony had been celebrated with a public concert. This building was erected on the former site of the Wheat Cross, a round stone column, surmounted by a ball and set on a circular flagged base which was erected in 1679 [6] . Both this and the nearby Butter Cross were demolished by 1846 to make space for the complex of Market Buildings now on the site. References: [1] Sheardown, W. (1872) The Marts and Markets, at Doncaster: Their Rise and Progress and Sources of Supply. p. 53. The Doncaster Gazette. Facsimile reprint 1979. Doncaster Library Service. [2] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.49 [3] The Doncaster Chronicle Friday 18 April 1873 p.8 " The New Corn Exchange" [4] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.22 [5] Sheardown, W. (1872) p.43.
Description
false
Rights:
© Sheffield Hallam University
rights
© Sheffield Hallam University
Rights
false
Permissions:
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
permissions
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
Permissions
false
Image Storage Location:
image_storage_location
http://helios.shu.ac.uk/05-0431.tif
Image Storage Location
false
Photographed by:
Dave Ball
photographed_by
Dave Ball
Photographed by
false
Creator:
MABEY, C.H. & J.
creator
MABEY, C.H. & J.
Creator
false
Creator Role:
Sculptors.
creator_role
Sculptors.
Creator Role
false
Nationality:
British.
nationality
British.
Nationality
false
Creator:
WATKINS, Williams
creator
WATKINS, Williams
Creator
false
Creator Dates - Died:
1868
creator_dates_died
1868
Creator Dates - Died
false
Creator Dates - Active:
1894 - 1896
creator_dates_active
1894 - 1896
Creator Dates - Active
false
Creator Role:
Architect.
creator_role
Architect.
Creator Role
false
Culture Gender:
Male.
culture_gender
Male.
Culture Gender
false
Nationality:
British.
nationality
British.
Nationality
false
Subject Heading:
Architecture -- Details
subject_heading
Architecture -- Details
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Public art -- England (South Yorkshire)
subject_heading
Public art -- England (South Yorkshire)
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Sculpture, British -- 1900-2000
subject_heading
Sculpture, British -- 1900-2000
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Decoration and ornament, Architectural
subject_heading
Decoration and ornament, Architectural
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Relief (Sculpture), English
subject_heading
Relief (Sculpture), English
Subject Heading
false