Market Hall

The Market Hall in Bakewell is a former market hall that now serves as an information centre. Its origins date back to around 1600, with alterations made in the 18th century, an eastern extension added in 1858, and a later rear porch. The building is constructed from deeply-coursed sandstone and features a stone slate roof.

It stands two storeys high with a five-window range and a double-span roof. The front facing Bridge Street has large quoins, a plinth at bay 1, and a straight joint on the right. The windows are two-light mullioned with chamfered surrounds and leaded lights, while the first floor has a sill band across bays 2 to 5 and a single-light window in bay 1. The ashlar gutter is complemented by mid-19th century blind gabled dormers over bays 2 to 5, which have painted shields, shaped kneelers, and roll-moulded copings with apex gablets. The end gables are treated similarly.

At the rear, there is a single-storey porch featuring a triangular-headed entrance with double doors and leaded sidelights, along with an ashlar parapet that has moulded copings. The main wall includes chamfered mullioned windows and a gabled dormer, while a Tudor-arched doorway is found in the right end bay. The left return features a three-light mullioned window with a dripstone and an oriel bay window with a 1:2:1 light arrangement on the first floor to the right. The right return has three late 19th century square-headed openings, with a central entrance flanked by display windows. The west gable was rebuilt in 1896.

Inside, the Bridge Street side has an infilled arcade of four round arches that spring from large blocks. The window heads on the opposite wall feature reused timber lintels, including two sections of multiple-light windows with sockets for diagonally-set mullions. The central valley is supported by two iron pillars, and each roof has small principal-rafter trusses with diagonal struts, large-scantling purlins, and a diagonally-set ridge, some of which have been reconstructed. The arcaded side wall was filled in during the 18th century, and it is suggested that the building may have originally been timber-framed on the upper floor.

Historically, the Market Hall served as the Town Hall from 1827 and was also used as a wash-house and courtroom in the mid-19th century. In 1858, the floor was removed, and the building was used as a courtroom and assembly hall. It became the market hall when Bakewell's new town hall was constructed in 1891.