Corn Exchange, Thrapston

The building was originally commissioned as a public house known as The George Inn and was built in rubble masonry in around 1750. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto the High Street. Following the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, a locally-born designer and hydraulic engineer, Freeman Roe, whose offices were in The Strand in London, decided to initiate a major remodelling of the building to create a corn exchange.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qu8NAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA138 |title=Post office directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, with Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Huntingdonshire|publisher=Kelly's Directories|page=138|year=1869}}{{cite web|url= https://nenevalley.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/thrapston_trail.pdf |title=Thrapston Heritage Trail|publisher=Nene Valley.net| access-date=31 July 2023}}

The foundation stone for the remodelled structure was laid on 5 October 1850.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ql1SIrOi-VIC&pg=PA487|title=Notes in the Provinces|date=12 October 1850|

work =The Builder|page=487|volume=VIIL|issue= 104| access-date=31 July 2023}} The works, which were carried out by a local contractor, John Eaton,{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ql1SIrOi-VIC&pg=PA539 |title=To Correspondents|newspaper=The Builder|page=539|date=9 November 1850| access-date=31 July 2023}} involved the construction of a new doorway, which was flanked by stone panels inscribed with the words "Corn Exchange" and by brackets supporting a pediment containing a carved wheatsheaf and two scythes. The outer bays on the ground floor and all the bays on the first floor were newly fenestrated with sash windows. An additional entrance was installed to the right: it was flanked by Doric order columns supporting an entablature, inscribed with the words "Erected by F. Roe 1850", a dentilled cornice and carvings of a plough and a wheatsheaf.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=soI35rrNLMIC&pg=PA431 |title=Northamptonshire (Buildings of England Series)|first1=Nikolaus|last1=Pevsner|first2=Bridget|last2=Cherry|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0300096323|page=431}} Internally, the principal room was a new main hall which was {{convert|50|feet}} long and {{convert|35|feet}} wide and capable of accommodating 400 people.{{cite web|url= https://www.smartmovenorthamptonshire.net/sites/default/files/2017-12/Short%20Walk%20Map%20-%20Thrapston%20%26%20Islip.pdf |title=Countryside Walks: Thrapston and Islip|publisher= Northamptonshire Countryside Services| access-date=31 July 2023}}

Roe went on to design the Manchester Fountains in front of the Manchester Lunatic Hospital in Piccadilly Gardens for Queen Victoria's visit to Manchester in October 1851.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MCiyGu3VBYQC&pg=PA251 |title=The Victorian City Images and Realities |volume=1|first1=Harold James|last1= Dyos|first2=Michael |last2=Wolff|year=1999|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0415193238}}{{cite web|url= https://www.ribapix.com/manchester-fountains-on-the-occasion-of-queen-victorias-visit-10-october-1851_riba13000 |title=Manchester Fountains on the occasion of Queen Victoria's visit, 10 October 1951|publisher=Royal Institute of British Architects| access-date=31 July 2023}}

The building was also used for public events including lectures{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzkEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA190 |title=The Jewish Herald and Record of Christian Effort for the spiritual good of God's ancient people |publisher=The British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews|year= 1855|page=190}} and speeches. The Conservative Party candidate, Brownlow Cecil, delivered a speech in the main hall during the 1877 North Northamptonshire by-election.{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X622TJedU0kC&pg=PA1027 |title=The North Northamptonshire Election|publisher=The Spectator|date=18 August 1877|page=1027|access-date=31 July 2023}} However, 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}} In 1900, the building was acquired by a local firm of auctioneers and estate agents, Terrence Hodgkins Associates, later rebranded as Hodgkins Boden Associates.{{cite web|url=http://terrencehodgkinsassociates.co.uk/contact%20us.html |title=Terrence Hodgkins Associates| access-date=31 July 2023}} However, the main hall has continued to be hired out for public events such as local fairs.{{cite web|url= https://www.thrapstonheritage.org.uk/content/topics/community/churches-feature-pages-community/thrapston-parish-church-churches-feature-pages-community/a-housewifes-fair-31st-january-1929 |title= A Housewife's Fair |date= 31 January 1929|publisher=Thrapston Heritage| access-date=31 July 2023}}

• Corn exchanges in England

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Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1850

Category:Thrapston

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Northamptonshire

Thrapston