Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange, built in 1861-62 and altered in 1969-70, was designed by Ellis and Woodard, architects of Fenchurch Street, London, with ironwork by Ransomes and Sims of Ipswich, and constructed by Lot Jackaman of Bury St Edmunds. It is built of white brick and freestone, likely Ancaster, with Portland stone for the column bases, and has slate roofs.

The building occupies an island site, standing two storeys high. It features a stone modillion cornice with stone balustrading above the north and south fronts, and over the end bays on the east and west. The south front presents as a single storey with a giant hexastyle Ionic portico and a pediment featuring figures representing Agriculture. Flanking the portico, the wings have blocked semicircular-headed windows set within stone arched recesses and framed by stone pilasters. The north front is distinguished by a central pediment displaying a circular stone coat of arms. The east and west fronts were altered in 1969-70 to create shop windows on the east and a shopping arcade on the west, retaining the upper portions of original semicircular-headed windows. A slate-roofed colonnade on the north side, now a shop, originally formed part of the town Shambles, which previously occupied three sides of the site. A single original Tuscan column remains inside, raised and encased in 19th-century brickwork.

Originally open throughout, the interior had a 7-bay arcade to the east and west, with semicircular stone arches supported by cast-iron columns with elaborately foliated capitals. The arches demonstrate alternating bands of light and dark stone, topped by a dentil cornice. The keystones are ornamented with agricultural motifs such as wheatsheaves and rams' heads. Central keystones display intertwined initials 'VR' within a roundel incorporating roses, shamrock, daffodils, and thistles. The roof ribs are supported on corbels with heavily enriched consoles projecting from the cornice. The roof is glazed with cast-iron bars and a decorated central plaster panel. An upper floor was inserted just below the cast-iron capitals, which are now encased in wooden shuttering. A stage has been added at the north end and two staircases inserted within the principal front's vestibule.