Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange stands in Newbury’s Market Place as a Grade II listed building. Originally built in 1862 to a neoclassical design by James Dodd, it replaced an earlier guildhall from 1611. The ashlar stone façade shows three symmetrical bays with round-headed door and windows framed by Corinthian columns. Inside, a full-height assembly hall once hosted agricultural trade before becoming an events venue. The building cost £6,000 when new and now holds protected status. Important events mark its history. A promenade concert celebrated the Prince of Wales’s marriage in 1863. In 1879, Catherine, Countess of Carnarvon, cut the first sod of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway at a reception here. A public dinner followed the line’s opening in 1882, hosted by Lady Loyd-Lindsay. By the mid-20th century the building hosted concerts, including a 1966 gig by The Who that ended in a backstage fight. Today the Corn Exchange functions as a concert and events venue. The assembly hall remains the principal space, now adapted for modern performances. The independent Corn Exchange (Newbury) Trust manages the building after taking over in 2000. Refurbished in 1993, it continues to host live music and celebrations in the heart of the town.