New Market-Hall, Derby. T. C. Thorburn and George Thompson, architects. Owen Jones, interior decoration. Ordish and Le Feuvre, builders. Source: the 1866 Illustrated London News. [Click on image to enlarge it ]
“The opening of the new Market-Hall at Derby, built at a cost of £18,000, took place on Tuesday last. There was a procession from the Townhall to the Market-Hall, and an appropriate inaugural ceremony, in which the Mayor, Mr. F. Longdon, was supported by several of the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood, as well as by the members of the Corporation and other influential townsmen. This was followed by a grand performance of Handel's oratorio, "The Messiah," in which Mr. Sims Reeves Mdme. Sainton-Dolby, and Mdme. Lemmens-Sherrington took part, with a chorus of 500 voices and a full band, the conductor being Mr. Alfred Mellon.
We present a View of the Interior of the new Market-Hall, which is 220 ft. long and 110 ft. wide, and covered by a semicircular wrought-iron roof, in one span of 86 ft. 6 in., and two small side roofs of 12 ft. span, the wrought-iron principal ribs being carried by twenty-two ornamental cast-iron columns, 22 ft. high, the height from the ground floor to the centre of the roof being 04 ft. The roof is covered with slates, glass, and lead. The exterior of the building is not much seen.
The original design of the building, with the exception of the side Bhops, galleries, staircases, and internal arrangements and fittings, was prepared by Mr. T. C. Thorburn, formerly borough surveyor of Derby; but, owing to Mr. Thorburn's appointment to the Birkenhead surveyorship, soon after the commencement of the building, the general management and superintendence of the works devolved upon his successor, Mr. George Thompson, the borough surveyor of Derby; and the committee found it desirable to alter the original design in many particulars during the progress of the works. The shops, galleries, staircases, and internal fittings were designed by Mr. Thompson and constructed under his superintendence. Messrs. Ordish and Le Feuvre, of Westminster, were the consulting engineers for the roof; and Mr. Haywood, of Derby, was contractor for the iron-work. The decoration of the hall has been carried ont by Mr. Cantrill of Derby, in accordance with the instructions of Mr. Owen Jones.”
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Bibliography
“The New Market-Hall at Derby.” Illustrated London News. (2 June 1866): 537. Hathi Trust Digital Library version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 12 January 2016.
Last modified 12 January 2016