The Corn Hall has been a part of life in Cirencester for 150 years. Reporter Jack Pitts went along to see first-hand how important the venue is to market traders.

WHEN I wandered into Cirencester’s Corn Hall for the first time on a Friday lunchtime, I was amazed by the dizzying array of antiques on display.

In a few square meters I found tables lined with delicate bracelets, old medical equipment, piles of shining brass handles and banks of watches, ticking away like the patter of rain.

Tucked away in a corner were ancient maps, Second World War tobacco tins, ageing books, ornaments of all shapes and sizes and even a selection of retired post boxes.

I was there to meet Marcus, a stall owner leading a campaign to promote the Corn Hall and the markets that go on there.

He told me that Cirencester had been famous for its fine wool for hundreds of years but, as the Industrial Revolution steamed in, the cotton mills of Lancashire and Manchester soon made producing wool unprofitable.

So, like so many businesses today, the farmers diversified, turning to more arable methods of farming, particularly corn.

This precipitated the building of the Corn Hall, which now holds Marcus and his fellow dealers, as well as a whole host of other weekly events.

From Monday to Thursday the hall is awash with jewellery, fashion, toys, eco-products and home and garden items at the Home, Fashion & Garden Bazaar.

Every Saturday, craftsmen from across the region set up stall, selling hand-made goods from carpentry to bespoke lampshades. The Hall also opens on selected Sundays, with the third Vintage & Artisan Fair taking place on March 29.

On Fridays, though, it’s the turn of the Antiques & Collectables Market.

Marcus told me: “Many of the people here are serious dealers, they travel for miles to get good quality antiques then bring them here."

Around 50 dealers descend on the Corn Hall each Friday, with the market open from about 8am to 3pm, but visitors won't be disappointed whichever day they decide to go.

Augusta Wreay(CORR), who runs the hall, said: “It is always worth having a look as a friendly welcome awaits you, a new café will be opening soon in the newly opened extension area and the interesting and unusual gift items and fabulous fashions, accessories and toys are just some of the weekly stands.

“We are always looking for new stallholders and are particularly keen to attract interesting start up businesses as the Corn Hall provides a great shop front in the centre of Cirencester.”

Recently refurbished, the hall can also be hired in the evening for events such as parties and conferences.