Market House, Kingston

Market House
Interactive map of Market House
General information
Architectural styleItalianate architecture
LocationKingston Upon Thames, London, England
Coordinates51°24′35″N 0°18′22″W / 51.4098°N 0.3062°W / 51.4098; -0.3062
Year built1838-1840
Design and construction
ArchitectCharles Henman Senior
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameMarket House
Designated10 June 1983
Reference no.1358428

Market House is a Grade II* listed[1] building in Kingston Market, London. It previously served as the town hall for Kingston, and the ground floor was also used for market space. Market House is also part of the Kingston Old Town conservation area.

History

Since 1505 the site of Market House had held the previous town hall. The current building was built between 1838 and 1840 remained the town hall of Kingston until the Kingston Guildhall's construction in 1935. There have been a number of minor modifications to the building throughout the years.[1] As of 2025 the building sits empty although there have been plans to reuse it as a commercial space along with as a broader scheme to revitalise the struggling Ancient Kingston Market which was founded around 1170.[2][3] In 2025, Kingston council consolidated Market House with the surrounding market with a longer term lease in order to encourage a more unified approach.[4]

Description

The building's plot is roughly rectangular in shape and sits on the northern side of the triangular Market Place. It is built in an Italianate style with Portland stone and Bath stone masonry as well as brick and ironwork features. The balcony on its southern facade holds a statue of Queen Anne from 1706 that was re-gilded in 1995.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Market House, Non Civil Parish - 1358428 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Kingston Ancient Market: Plans for restaurant and piazza revealed". www.bbc.com. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  3. ^ Lillywhite, Charlotte (13 April 2024). "Market that is a 'shadow of former glory' but plans to 'revive'". My London. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  4. ^ "The big changes coming to Kingston in 2025". Your Local Guardian. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.

Media related to Kingston upon Thames old town hall at Wikimedia Commons