Building record 7198/0/38 - Town Hall and Corn Exchange, The Hippodrome/The Palace

Erected in 1853 to the designs of EF Law, a Northampton architect. Was opened in 1862. Consists of a market room and a room used for concerts and public meetings. Later became the Hippodrome and was used as a cinema and theatre until 1920.

{1} Town Hall and Corn Exchange. Building was erected in 1853 to the designs of Mr Francis Edmund Law, a Northampton architect. Was opened in 1862. Consists of a market room and a room used for concerts and public meetings. Later became the Hippodrome and was used as a cinema and theatre until 1920. The building is still in existence today and used as shops/café. Film 1, photo 17,18.
The Hippodrome/Palace
Located in the former Town Hall and Corn Exchange - it became a cinema and theatre in 1909 and functioned as such under various organisations until 1920. The building is now in use by shops/café and has painted signs for 'Drama', 'Comedy' and 'Opera'. Film 1, photo 17,18.

{2} Former Corn Exchange. 1853 by E.F. Law. Red brick, two storeys, three bays with giant blank arches. The upper floor was designed as the Town Hall.

{3} The building occupies a commanding posistion and is two tall storeys high, of brick and limestone construction arranged in three blind-arched bays. Designed by EF Law of Northampton and built as the 'Corn Exchange and Town Hall' (the latter on the first floor), opening in 1854. Converted to Vint's Electric Palace in 1909 with a floor plan measuring 58 x 32 feet, a gallery and the ability to present stage shows. The building passed into local hands in 1912 operating as the Palace and in 1917 changed names again to the Hippodrome (the painted sign is still visible on the south elevation), closing c.1921. Now used as part café, part shop

{4} An historic building assessment of the Corn Exchange, Market Place, Kettering. The assessment revealed that the building constructed in 1853 has passed through numerous different owners and uses including a period as the town's first cinema. The assessment traces the history of the building and its fabric and makes recommendations for its future development. Includes maps, plans and photographs.

{5} The first moving picture show was in 1909. Its Hippodrome poster is still painted on its end wall.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.273 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<3> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<4> Ellison M.; Crank N., 2011, Historic Building Assessment: Corn Exchange, Market Place, Kettering, (checked) (Report). SNN107423.

<5> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 361 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Jan 13 2022 2:25PM