The Market House
THE MARKET HOUSE, MARKET PLACE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1056254
- Date first listed:
- 04-Feb-1974
- List Entry Name:
- The Market House
- Statutory Address:
- THE MARKET HOUSE, MARKET PLACE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-08-12
- Reference:
- IOE01/11214/23
- Rights:
- © Mr John Barker. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1056254
- Date first listed:
- 04-Feb-1974
- List Entry Name:
- The Market House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE MARKET HOUSE, MARKET PLACE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE MARKET HOUSE, MARKET PLACE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Castle Cary
- National Grid Reference:
- ST6408832379
Details
ST6432
6/87
CASTLE CARY CP
MARKET PLACE (West side)
The Market House
4.2.74
GV
II*
Market house with other public buildings. 1855, by F.C. Penrose. Cary stone cut and
squared, with Doulting stone dressings; Delabole slate roof between stepped coped gables
crowned with small pinnacles; central lead-covered spirelet with clock-faces set
diagonally onto ridge. In a Flemish style. 'L'-plan; 3 storeys, 7-bay main facade. Open
colonnade to ground floor, with circular non-classical columns carrying chamfered
3-centred arches; then string courses to a panelled section with pointed arohed recesses
having alternately circular and triangular leaded windows; to upper storey in bays 2, 4
and 6 are hollow-chamfered mullioned windows with three 4-centre-arched lights under
flat heads without labels. North- east elevation has two open pointed arches at ground
floor; then two pairs of small rectangular windows divided by a central shaft carrying a
1+2+1 light oriel window at second floor level having chamfered mullions and transomes,
and stepped stone roof with a gable vent over. South-west elevation has an end gable,
featuring staircase windows, and a 3-bay extension to the rear to match, adjusted to
suit the slope of the hill alongside. Rear elevation has a gabled projection with
segmental arched casements at ground floor level, a single and a 2-light rectangular
window to first floor with casements, and similar windows to second floor but with
rectangular leaded-pane lights, gable vent above: sundry later extensions to fill in the
angle including a covered walkway and fire escape stairway. Erected by the Market House
Company to replace the former house of 1616, possibly reusing the old columns, in
anticipation of increased trade after the projected arrival of the railway in 1856. The
undercroft, still enclosed by wrot iron railings, was for the market, particularly for
corn, and at the rear were several cells; above were reading and news rooms and
facilities for musical entertainments (McGarvie M, Castle Cary; Avalon Industries, 1980).
Listing NGR: ST6408832379
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 262020
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
McGarvie, M, Castle Cary Avalon Industries, (1980)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 15:35:42.
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