Corn Exchange, Ipswich
{{Short description|Commercial building in Ipswich, Suffolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Corn Exchange, Ipswich
| native_name =
| image = Ipswich- Corn Exchange building, King Street (geograph 6909822).jpg
| caption= Corn Exchange, Ipswich
| locmapin = Suffolk
| map_caption =Shown in Suffolk
| coordinates ={{coord| 52.0575| 1.1523|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location = King Street, Ipswich
| area =
| built =1882
| architect =Brightwen Binyon
| architecture = Renaissance Revival style
| governing_body =
| website=
| designation1 =Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Corn Exchange
| designation1_date =4 August 1972
| designation1_number = 1374819
}}
The Corn Exchange is a commercial building in King Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The structure, which is currently used as a public events venue, is Grade II listed building.{{NHLE|num=1374819|desc=Corn Exchange|access-date=4 June 2023}}
History
File:Ipswich_Corn_Exchange.jpg
Until the early 19th century, corn merchants in the town traded in the open at stalls on the Cornhill.{{cite web|url=http://www.ipswichsociety.org.uk/newsletter/newsletter-july-2016-issue-204/the-cornhill-in-history/ |title=The Cornhill in History|publisher=Ipswich Society| access-date=4 June 2023}} In 1793, some merchants relocated to The Rotunda, a building designed by George Gooding and modelled on the Halle aux blés in Paris.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich-icons-the-farming-history-behind-the-town-s-corn-2783410|title=Ipswich Icons: The farming history behind the town's Corn Exchange|first=Lauren|last=Everitt|date=29 April 2017|newspaper=Ipswich Star|access-date=4 June 2023}} However, in the around 1810, Ipswich Borough Council decided to commission a purpose-built structure in the southeast corner of Cornhill. It was designed in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £33,000 and was completed in March 1812. It was originally open behind the façade, although a glass roof was added in 1849.{{cite web|url= https://ipswichtheatres.co.uk/about-us/history/ |title=Our history|publisher=Regent Theatre, Ipswich| access-date=4 June 2023}}
In the late 1860s, Ipswich Borough Council decided to commission a more substantial structure: the site they selected was on the north side of King Street. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by mayor, David Henry Booth, on 22 October 1880. It was designed by Brightwen Binyon in the Renaissance Revival style, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £25,000 and was officially opened by the then-mayor, Frederick Fish, on 26 July 1882.
The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of nine bays facing onto King Street with the end bays slightly projected forward. The central section of three bays, which was also slightly projected forward, was fenestrated by a central tripartite window flanked by single sash windows with architraves on the ground floor, a central Diocletian window flanked by segmental headed windows with architraves and Corinthian order columns on the first floor, and a pair of round headed windows with Corinthian order columns flanked by single round headed windows also with Corinthian order columns on the second floor. The bays were flanked by full-height pilasters supporting a modillioned cornice. The wing sections of two bays each featured wide openings separated by Corinthian order pilasters on the ground floor and balustraded parapets placed in front of recessed blind walls on the first floor. The end bays were fenestrated in a similar manner to the central section. Above the cornice the central section and end bays featured dormer windows and mansard roofs. Internally, the principal room was a Grand Hall.{{cite web|url= https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/mayorsball2023 |title= Mayor's 2023 Charity Ball for Emmaus Suffolk|publisher=Ipswich Borough Council|date=7 March 2023| access-date=4 June 2023}}
The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obn5AQAAQBAJ|first=T. W. |last=Fletcher|title= 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in British Agriculture 1875-1914 |location=London|publisher= Methuen|year= 1973|isbn=978-1136581182|page= 31}} Instead, it became a public events venue: early speakers included the President of the Board of Trade, Joseph Chamberlain, in January 1885.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5Kk5AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA5-PA19 |title= Proceedings in Connection with the Annual Meeting of the National Liberal Federation with the Annual Report |publisher= National Liberal Federation|year= 1881 |page=19}}
Following a major programme of restoration works costing £800,000, the building was re-opened by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester on 22 September 1975.{{cite news|url=https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/22068160.see-perform-corn-exchange-ipswich-70s-80s-90s/ |title=Who did you see perform at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich during the 70s, 80s and 90s?|date=30 September 2016|newspaper=Ipswich Star| access-date=4 June 2023}} The building hosted the Antiques Roadshow in March 1986,{{cite news|url= https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/22063784.remember-antiques-roadshow-visited-ipswich-1985/ |title=Do you remember when the Antiques Roadshow visited Ipswich in 1985?|date=17 March 2017|newspaper=Ipswich Star|access-date=4 June 2023}} and the rock band, Blur, in June 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/22064237.see-blur-perform-ipswich-corn-exchange-1991/ |title=Did you see Blur perform at the Ipswich Corn Exchange in 1991?|date= 4 March 2017| newspaper=Ipswich Star| access-date=4 June 2023}} It was also the venue for the political debate programme, Question Time, in May 2013{{cite news|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21738490.ipswich-heated-question-time-debate-ipswich-tonight/ |title=Ipswich: Heated Question Time debate from Ipswich tonight |date=16 May 2013|newspaper=East Anglian Daily Times| access-date=4 June 2023}} and, again, in May 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-suffolk-36322520/page/2|title=Question Time comes to Ipswich|publisher=BBC|date=27 May 2016|accessdate=8 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutipswich.com/visiting-shopping/the-directory/1004/Ipswich-Town-Hall-/|publisher=All about Ipswich|title=Ipswich Town Hall|access-date=2014-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031201618/http://www.allaboutipswich.com/visiting-shopping/the-directory/1004/Ipswich-Town-Hall-/|archive-date=2014-10-31|url-status=dead}}