Remedial work at Market House, Minchinhampton

At a recent meeting with my fellow trustees of Stroud Preservation Trust I mentioned I’d heard some local news about archaeological research at the old Market House, in Minchinhampton. I knew of the Grade 11 Listed building because in years gone by I used to have an occasional stall selling pictures. I blipped it here in 2018. We even used the ‘Undercroft’ shown here when the weather was good, rather than the fine first floor interior.

This is a link to the ‘Report on archaeology at the Market House’, published on. 31st January 2022.

I decided to visit the Market House when driving near to the village and saw there was work in progress and managed to have a brief chat with the lead stonemason. He says that all the old flagstones have been lifted and a new substrate with a lime base is being laid down, over a crushed recycled glass layer aiming to increase drainage apparently. He was just doing what he was told! The lime will be setting / curing for a month and then the flagstones replaced, as far as possible. It will be good to see it more accessible and somewhat safer. The flagstones were quite tricky to walk on.

The building on the far side of the road is 'The Crown', the last of many pubs in the village which closed many years ago. It was bought and refurbished in a gastropub type of way, by a local businessman who then sold it on last year. It is still open so that is good.