Pannier Market conservation scheme goes ahead
A grant of £320,000 has recently been approved by local partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund, under the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), to enable a comprehensive repair and restoration scheme to proceed for the exterior of the Pannier Market.
The Pannier Market is a purpose-built market designed by Edward Rundle, the Tavistock estate surveyor, and constructed between 1859 and 1862, at the peak of the Duke of Bedford’s 19th century redevelopment of Tavistock. It is the second of two ‘critical’ projects (the first being the Butchers’ Hall) to proceed under the THI programme.
The project will address a number of problems with the existing roof which cause rainwater ingress, as well as enhance its appearance and functionality as a key heritage and economic asset within the town centre. The works will involve re-slating and repairing the roofs and re-glazing existing roof lights; the roof currently has a mixture of natural and cement-fibre slates, all of which will be removed to enable repairs to be carried out to timber sarking boards as necessary, and the provision of breathable roofing membrane. Any natural slates in sound condition will be set aside for re-use. It is proposed that inner slopes of the arcade roofs will be re-slated with a mixture of new (natural) and existing slates, and outer slopes entirely with existing slates. The existing box valley gutters are to be replaced with new stepped and tapered lead gutters and there will be new cast iron downpipes. Fascias and barge boards will be replaced, white uPVC rainwater goods will be reinstated with new cast iron gutters, while downpipes and external joinery will be painted in Middle Brunswick green to match paintwork on the recently restored Butchers’ Hall. Windows will be fully refurbished and there will be some masonry repairs. Although not covered by THI funding new external glazed doors will be fitted to improve the appearance of the building and visibility into the market.
The works are planned to take place between 8 January and 28 April 2018. In that period the building will be closed. Five-day traders will be operating from the Butchers’ Hall and less frequent traders will operate from the Town Hall and Bedford Square. The shops around the market surrounds will continue trading as normal. Bob’s Café will remain in use with the café operating from 3 East End Stores.
When the works have been completed traders will return to the Pannier Market building and the council will then bring the Butchers’ Hall into use as an additional themed market, adding to the unique offer of Tavistock as a market town. The Pannier Market surrounds are then due to be the first public realm project planned for May 2017. Detailed plans are still being developed but the scheme will be designed to enhance the pedestrian area around the Pannier Market and will probably include removing redundant highways markings and signage, replacing white lines at access points with granite setts and providing a consistent style of street furniture.