Market House

The Market House, located at No 17 Market Street, was built in 1854 by Miles Thompson of Kendal. This two-storey building features a symmetrical design with nine bays that turn the corner of Main Street and Market Street. It is constructed of ashlar stone and topped with a slate roof. The ground floor has a plinth of rugged rustication, transitioning to chamfered rustication. There are two impost bands and a cornice, with a panel above the cornice on the central bay that displays the date, flanked by scrolls.

The ground floor originally had an arcade, but all arches have been converted to windows except for the central arch, which retains wrought iron gates. The glazing is recent. The first-floor windows are round-headed with sunk panels beneath and are sashed with all glazing bars. Behind the main façade, the market hall extends back and is constructed of rubble with a blind arcade. The interior contains some cast iron columns, but it has been significantly altered and subdivided. The building was originally funded by subscription to serve as a Mechanics' Institute, library, county court, and market house.