Pontefract Market Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pontefract Market Hall |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Pontefract Market Hall
|
|
| General information | |
| Classification | |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Designated: | 29 July 1950 |
| Reference #: | 1313248 |
| Town or city | Pontefract |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°41′31″N 1°18′39″W / 53.6920°N 1.3108°W |
| Construction started | 1859 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Joseph Wilson |
The Pontefract Market Hall is a special building in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It's a place where people can buy and sell goods, like a big indoor market. This hall was finished in 1860. The market in Pontefract happens both inside this hall and outside in the Market Place. The building is considered important enough to be a Grade II listed building since 1950. This means it's protected because of its history and architecture.
History of the Market Hall
The front part of the market hall was built between 1859 and 1860. It was designed by an architect named Joseph Wilson. Over the years, the hall has been changed and updated, with some parts added as late as the 1960s.
The building officially opened in 1860. A very important person named Lord Palmerston opened it. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time. People have been holding markets in this exact spot for a very long time, even since the 1300s!
Building Style and Features
.jpg)
The front of the building is made from carefully cut stone blocks called ashlar. The back part is made of brick. The roof you see today was built in the 1900s. It's made of metal and has some glass sections to let light in.
The front of the hall has three main sections, called bays. The two sections on the sides have tall, flat columns called pilasters. These pilasters have fancy tops, known as the Corinthian order, and strong bases called plinths. The middle section has a tall wall above it, called a parapet. This parapet has a large, rounded arch with a decorative stone in the middle shaped like a bull's head. It also shows the special symbol, or arms, of the Borough of Pontefract.
The inside of the market hall has been changed a lot, especially in the 1960s. Because of these changes, the inside is not part of the protected listed building status.
What Happens Inside
The Pontefract Market Hall is open six days a week. Inside, you can find 28 different market stalls. These stalls sell all sorts of things, making it a busy and useful place for the community.
