page_title: Corn exchanges in England
section_title: Somerset
hierarchical_section_title: Corn exchanges in England / Corn exchanges listed by Ceremonial Counties of England / Somerset
caption_attribution_description: English: The Guildhall, Chard
context_page_description: In England, corn exchanges are distinct buildings which were originally created as a venue for corn merchants to meet and arrange pricing with farmers for the sale of wheat, barley and other corn crops. The word "corn" in British English denotes all cereal grains, such as wheat and barley. With the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, a large number of corn exchanges were built, particularly in the corn-growing areas of Eastern England. However, with the fall in price of English corn as a result of cheap imports, corn exchanges virtually ceased to be built after the 1870s. Increasingly they were put to other uses, particularly as meeting and concert halls. Many found a new lease of life in the early 20th century as cinemas, Following the Second World War, many could not be maintained and they were demolished. In the 1970s their architectural importance came to be appreciated, and most of the surviving examples are listed buildings. Most of the surviving corn exchanges have now been restored, and many have become arts centres, theatres or concert halls.
context_section_description: Bridgewater, Corn Hill. John Bowen designed the original circular Market House in 1834. To this was added the corn exchange of 1875 by Charles Knowles. The Corn Exchange immediately behind the rotunda, is square with a glazed hipped roof above horizontal-planked coving with rich late 19th-century ornamentation to the front and back walls. The central entrances have Byzantine-style semi-circular brick arches with a large keystone. On the tympanum are the Town Arms on the rear arch and angels on a tympanum over the main entrance.
   
  Chard. The Guildhall is a Grade II* listed building in the centre of the town that dates back to 1837 and was formerly the corn exchange. The Guildhall houses the offices of Chard Town Council.
  Glastonbury
  Yeovil. On land between the back of the town hall, and the adjacent cheese market. Completed and opened in 1859.
caption: The Guildhall, Chard
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