The old Market House in Minchinhampton

This fine old building is where I've recently been running a stall on Thursday mornings at the regular Country Market. It has been fun. I've been asked if I can produce a calendar showing scenes in and around this well known Cotswold town. Apparently there is a big demand for one. Once the market ended I used my little camera to record some of the buildings around this Market Square, which is also next to the fine church.

The two women were waiting for the bus which came a few minutes later. They asked what I was doing and we had a good laugh. 

This building dates from 1689 and has been well restored. The main first floor room is well used by many community groups and has a small stage with good AV facilities and excellent hearting. It was needed today. The town council also meets there and Nick, its chair, is a friend whom I met when he was appointed as the architect for Lansdown Hall and Gallery in nearby Stroud. At the time I was the chair of the working group of Stroud Town Council's organising the regeneration of the building when they purchased it to save it as a facility for the community. Nick came to the market last week and said he still wants me to teach him how to use his camera, but then again he has been saying that for years .....

The ground floor space under the arches is a wonderful space and is used to sell garden produce, plants and even a fishmongers stall come spring time. Other visitors to the square include all the cows which roam Minchinhampton Common as part of the Commoners' Rights to graze their animals. I think that might appear on the calendar if I manage to catch them at it. What it does mean is that the traffic grinds to a halt as the cows have the right of way.