As we've travelled around Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and further afield in England we've noticed that many market houses continue to fulfil their original function as a building providing a covered space for stalls selling goods to the people of the town. That is remarkable. It isn't unusual to find ancient houses and churches continuing to house people and act as places of worship. But it is much rarer to find other kinds of medieval, seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings still carrying out their original activities.
Some inns can claim the distinction as can a few town halls, places of learning and almshouses, but other examples are not common. On a recent visit to Newent, Gloucestershire, we saw the market house of 1668 (with a later apsidal addition) filled with so many stalls of hats, dresses, blouses etc that they were spilling out on to the adjoining pavements.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon D5300
