Situated in the heart of the historic university city of Cambridge, the Corn Exchange is an impressive example of Victorian architecture, combined with 21st Century technology. It is acoustically brilliant thanks to its high ceiling making it the ideal place for musical events. It has also repeatedly won the Government’s Charter Mark, awarded for excellence of service. The award is a national recognition of the venue’s consistently high standards in its delivery of services of the very highest quality.

The Corn Exchange can provide all the equipment you could wish to use, from audio-visual facilities, stage lighting and effects, quality sound and a lavish power supply. Rock and pop groups, touring theatres and operas, as well as full-scale orchestras and all night dance events are testament to the broad selection of entertainment available.

The Cambridge Corn Exchange was originally built in 1873 after a competition was held to design the building, which was won by local architect Richard Reynolds Rowe. The foundations were dug down to the remains of the Priory of Friars Hermitts, which had been on the site in the middle ages. The remains that were dug up were given to a museum in New Zealand.

In 1874 the foundation stone, made from Cornish granite from Cheese wring Quarry was laid by the mayor, John Death. The builders used a quarter of a million bricks in yellow, red and dark blue, interspersed with bands of fancy tiles.

On 6th November 1875 the Corn Exchange was officially opened after a civic procession from the Guildhall and a dinner for local dignitaries. A promenade concert was held on 8th November featuring the Coldstream Guards and a local choral society. A mistake was made during the playing of the National Anthem and later; rioters attacked the Mayor’s house. The following trail attracted the world’s press and resulted in sightseers to the building, interfering with the corn trading. Two years later the first ever motor show was held at the Corn Exchange.

During December 1917 Groceries were moved to the Corn Exchange from the over crowded streets in Petty Cury as queues blocked the street. Seven years on and Sir Thomas Beecham conducted the first ‘London Symphony Orchestra’. Then during the war hundreds of rifles were taken to the Corn Exchange for cleaning and were repaired by local women.

The 1950’s saw the building become a popular venue for roller skating, wrestling and boxing. It was also marked out with four badminton courts and was used for county matches. A temporary wooden bridge was then constructed above Wheeler Street from the Guildhall to the Corn Exchange for dances and balls.

It was in 1965 that the trading of corn ceased after a new Corn Exchange was built at the cattle market at a price of nine thousand pounds. The building was hardly used and was hired out as a warehouse. Then during the 1970’s it was used for pop concerts, one-day sales and exhibitions. The price of hire was ten pounds a day, half price for locals!!! In 1971 it was finally decided that the building be converted to a concert hall instead of including one in the Lion Yard redevelopment. Shortly after one thousand pop fans went on the rampage after ‘The Drifters’ failed to appear at a show.

In 1981 the Corn Exchange was closed after objections from neighbours about the noise caused by live bands, and complaints about the state of the building. But six hundred young people demonstrated to ‘Keep Cambridge Live’ by marching from the Great Northern Pub in Station Road to the Corn Exchange. Roof restoration work was completed and during work crests were discovered in the metal arches, representing the city, colleges, and other unidentified people and organisations (believed to be farmers’ clubs and merchants).

During the 1980’s the building was finally converted at a cost of over two hundred thousand pounds, which was more than anticipated, due to unexpected problems. September of 1985 saw rotten roof timbers discovered despite all the work carried out previously. The building was finally completed at a cost of roughly four million pounds after ten years of political wrangling and financial uncertainty. Then on February 4th 1986 the Corn Exchange was official re-opened with a special fanfare written by Professor Robin Orr and performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra. More staff were needed in March as bookings climbed up by over thirty percent on expectations!!!

In recent years the Cambridge Corn Exchange has been described by the local media as a priceless public asset, with increased audiences of over fifty percent, and now costs less to run than it did ten years ago. It is regionally and nationally renowned for its new music and contemporary events programme, and is regularly grant-aided by the Arts Council of England, Eastern Arts Board, Eastern Orchestral Board and New Audiences Fund.

Links:

Return to top