Listed market shut until autumn for revamp

The Shambles is a Grade-II listed structure which dates back to 1766. It is a stone structure with a series of pillars holding up a tiled roof. It is an open structure without walls or windows and outside it are trays of potted plants. Part of Hexham Abbey, a huge church, is visible in the background. A row of cars are parked on the far side of The Shambles.Northumberland County Council

The Shambles has been "repeatedly damaged by vehicles over the last few years"

James Robinson
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A £400,000 restoration project has started to rectify damage and address safety issues at a 259-year-old covered market.

The Shambles, a Grade-II listed structure built in 1766, occupies a prominent position within the heart of Hexham's conservation area, next to the town's Abbey.

Northumberland County Council said it is in a poor state and "urgent work" is needed to restore its timber beams, stone columns, roof and flooring.

The marketplace is expected to remain shut until autumn, with traders offered an alternative site nearby, but Hexham East councillor Suzanne Fairless-Aitken called the closure "short-term pain for long-term gain".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports bollards are also to be placed around The Shambles' north and west sides to protect its columns and stonework, which "have been repeatedly damaged by vehicles over the last few years".

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