Building record MLI92755 - Exchange Buildings, 36 to 39 Market Place, Boston
Summary
A fish market and dwellings built in 1772, and later used as offices and shops.
Type and Period (6)
- SHOP (Post Medieval to Modern - 1900 AD? to 2050 AD)
- OFFICE (Early 20th Century to 21st Century - 1920 AD? to 2050 AD)
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE (Post Medieval to Edwardian - 1820 AD? to 1902 AD)
- HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1772 AD to 1820 AD?)
- FISH MARKET (Post Medieval - 1772 AD to 1820 AD?)
- POLICE STATION (1856, Post Medieval - 1850 AD? to 1860 AD?)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
Corporation building, now shops and offices, dating from 1769 to 1772 which underwent alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries. Designed by Thomas Lumby for the Corporation and constructed of gault and red brick with stone dressings and has a double pitched hipped Westmorland slate roof with lead dressings and four central stacks in the roof valley. For the former description and legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {1}
The late 18th century increase in Boston Corporation’s estate income allowed it to carry out improvements on the west side of the Market Place. They demolished the old fish stalls and other buildings in order to clear the approach to the bridge, and replaced the fish stalls with a new fish market with high status dwellings in the form of a terrace above. A Lincoln architect, Thomas Lumby, was commissioned to design the building which was begun in 1770 and completed in 1772. In the early 19th century, the fish market at the centre of the building was converted into municipal offices, including an Audience Room, Justice Room, Magistrates Room and Committee Room, and in his history of Boston of 1856 the local antiquarian, Pishey Thompson, refers to this space as ‘the present Police Office’. This building became known as the Exchange Buildings at about this time. Various additions have been made to the building from the 19th century onwards, and the ground floor is now (2011) in commercial use, while the upper floors have been converted for use as offices and classrooms. The building is a three storey, fifteen-bay rectangular building with a bowed north end, built of gault and red-brown brick with additions in red brick and a Westmoreland slate roof. The east elevation is symmetrical, its central three bays slightly advanced with a pediment above. This has a painted relief decoration to the centre consisting of the corporation coat of arms surrounded by garlands, with the date 1772 below. The ground floor of the east elevation has been altered by the addition of modern shop fronts it contains three shops and a restaurant and is much altered. but has some surviving original features. For the full description of this listed building please refer to the National Heritage List for England. {2}{3}
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SLI8254 Index: Department of the Environment. 1975. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 716-1/7/110.
- <2> SLI13386 Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1388941.
- <3> SLI13505 Unpublished Document: English Heritage / Historic England. 2011->. Advice Report from a Heritage Asset Assessment. Case No. 463422.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 32785 44025 (38m by 38m) Surveyed |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BOSTON, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
- Event - Survey: A site visit to the Exchange Buildings, Boston (ELI10977)
- Event - Survey: A site visit to the Exchange Buildings, Boston (ELI10978)
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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