The Corn Exchange, 31 Market Place, Hitchin

The Corn Exchange is a beautiful listed building that stands proudly in Hitchin’s Market Place. It was built at a cost of £2000, and designed by William Beck a local architect who submitted his design free of charge. It opened in 1853, when traders and dealers came from far afield to buy and sell.

On market days the Corn Exchange was filled with a maximum of 30 tables, and corn dealers and seedman rented the tables. The newly formed 'Market Company' helped with the running cost and leased the market tolls from the Crown for 31 years.

To celebrate the wedding of The Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, in

1863, Hitchin were given free gas to light up The Corn Exchange, which I think shows what an important building it was to the town at that time.

In December 1941 The Corn Exchange was opened as a British Restaurant, and catered for 600 people a day.  Daily 'crocodiles' of children could be seen heading there from a local school, as food was rationed during the war.

By the 1950s and 1960s the building was used as a skating rink, and many young romances began there.  My mother recalls everyone would bring their own skates, and girls would wear short skating skirts.  Not everyone would skate. Many would stand round the edge listening to the music and watching others roll around the wooden floor. 

A Hitchin resident has told me that during the 1970s The Hitchin Historical Society buried a time-capsule in The Corn Exchange.

During the 1980s and 1990s, The Corn Exchange Craft and Antique Centre became a popular venue.  There were plenty of stalls selling arts and crafts, and a small café.

The Corn Exchange eventually opened as a bar and night club, and later became known as Que Pasa.

The Pitcher and Piano took over the lease in August 2013 

Prior to The Corn Exchange being built, The Red Lion Public House stood on that site. It was demolished in 1852, but had stood at No. 31 Market Place from 1612 - 1852.  The Red Lion then moved to No, 36 Bucklesbury.   In the early years of The Red Lion cock fights took place in the public house, and in 1767 there was a  2d wax works show at the Red Lion Craft.   The town crier would call out the news from the steps of The Red Lion Inn on market days.
Amanda.
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My best selling ebook Her Last Lie is available HERE  All ebook royalties go to Cancer Research UK in memory of my amazing sister. Her Last Lie is a psychological thriller, with a  chapter devoted to Hitchin, and the main character lives in Letchworth.