Corn Exchange: Landmark building has had many uses

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Steven Mason, from Derby’s Local Studies Library, reveals the fascinating history behind the city’s Corn Exchange building.

The Corn Exchange building on the corner of Albert Street and Exchange Street is undoubtedly a landmark of Derby city centre. It has graced this site for almost 150 years.

A dip into the archives at Derby Local Studies Library, in Iron Gate, provides some interesting insights into its history.

The Derby Corn Exchange Company (Ltd) was set up circa 1860. This joint stock company raised the funds for the erection of a building in which the buying and selling of corn could be conducted.

This had formerly taken place in the Corn Market.

Contained within the Derby Borough Council records is a specification for work to be carried out for the project. Interestingly, this was going to be sited along Derwent Street, stretching from the river to the Market Place.

As reported in the Derby Mercury newspaper, the foundation stone was eventually laid at the Albert Street site by the mayor of Derby, Mr T W Cox, on September 11, 1860. By the beginning of 1862, the building was finished and was opened with an inauguration concert on January 20 when the famous artiste Madame Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt performed to a packed house.

From then on, the building was used for a mixture of business and pleasure. The Derbyshire Red Book of 1862 explains that, “in addition to the exchange room, which is also admirably adapted for meetings, concerts etc, there will be a reading and news room, telegraph office and other useful rooms”.

The building was also a popular venue for exhibitions. In the library’s broadsheet collection, the billboard posters of their day, is an advert for a bizarre exhibition in 1863.

The Giant Baby was billed as “the most wonderful living novelty of the present day”.

The baby in question was William Jonas Giggle and he could be marvelled at for a fee of 1s for ladies and gentlemen and sixpence for tradespersons.

A lovely coloured engraving shows the fine art exhibition of September 1866, held in aid of St Andrew’s Church and St James’ Church.

In July 1881, Mr C K Eddowes, the solicitor for the Corn Exchange Company Ltd, placed a notice in the Derby Mercury that the company was to be wound up and the building and associated offices sold.

After the sale the building was still used as a corn exchange and, from 1897, was also used as the location of the Palace Theatre of Varieties.

In the Derbyshire Red Book of 1905 it states that, “the corn market is held here on Fridays at midday. The hall is let to Mr T A Edwards, and is used as a Theatre of Varieties”.

After the First World War, the building was converted into a dance hall. In the library’s building plans collection is the building notice and plan, dated April 1921, which details the work to be carried out. The Palais de Danse opened its doors on November 10, 1921. An advert in the 1922 Derby Almanac and Diary proclaims that dancing is “twice daily at 3-6pm and 7.30-11pm”. The building housed “luxurious tea rooms and lounges”. An illustration accompanying the advert showed the lavish interior of the dance hall.

In 1929 it was all change again as the Derby Evening Telegraph, then known as the Derby Daily Telegraph, took over the building.

The building plans collection contains the plans for this work and the building was re-named Northcliffe House.

The newspaper enjoyed residence here for just over 50 years and the only break in publication was for a week during the horrendous floods of 1932. The paper was prepared each day in Northcliffe House and then rushed to Leicester for printing.

In 1981, the newspaper moved to its current home, new purpose-built premises on Meadow Road.

The Corn Exchange building was then sold off and eventually divided into separate retail and office units.

A number of different businesses have operated from the units, such as a sewing shop, travel agents and recruitment agency. The main body of the hall has been used as a snooker club for a number of years.

The Corn Exchange is now a grade II listed building and long may it grace the corner of Albert and Exchange Street.

Here’s to another 150 years for a Derby landmark building.

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This article is from the Derby Evening Telegraph and is reproduced online here.