Final Report
The Great Reveal
Saturday 4th February 2023
An excellent turnout from Minchinhampton to hear about what we found, what we’ve done and what we’ve still to restore.
Restoring the Undercroft
Presently, the Minchinhampton Market House undercroft has severe limitations in its use by the community.
The stone flagged floor is very uneven after over 150 years of wear and tear. Direct access is only possible through cast iron baffleways, which are impassable to the disabled and for those with pushchairs. The access between the hall and undercroft is blocked by iron railings. The undercroft also has only very limited lighting and power.
The trustees feel now is the time to address these issues, and whilst conserving the historic nature of the Market House, improve the fabric of the undercroft to improve its use by the community for the next 150 years.
Archaeology
In January 2022, we started with an Archaeological Survey of the undercroft, digging 4 test pits and discovering:
The evaluation has shown that remains pre-dating the present Market House building survive within the undercroft, the earliest evidence is a limestone wall, the clay bonding suggesting a medieval or possibly Tudor date. The wall was demolished and overlain by a sequence of thin 17th century horizontal occupation layers.
Want to know more? Read Chiz Harward’s Archaeological Evaluation Report here
The Plan
Want to know more? Read David Newton’s Heritage, Design and Access Statement
Want to know more? Read the Stroud District Council planning permission documents including:
Cost – Please Help!
Restoration work on historic buildings such as the Minchinhampton Market House is never cheap!
Restoring the flagstones, and other associated work will cost in the region of £100,000
Refurbishing the iron work and helping with access to the undercroft will cost approximately another £20,000.
We are a long way towards gathering the necessary funding through fundraising and kind donations from individuals and grant giving bodies. Thank you one and all!
BUT we are still in URGENT need of more donations.
If you’d like to donate, please go to the Funding Appeal page where you can donate using a variety of methods
Or donate now online
