6 . 1 . 6 During the seventeenth century, Tiverton suffered a series of devastating fires. Rebuilding in brick instead of wood and cob had transformed the townscape by the nineteenth century.
6.1.7 The bricks were made locally using the heavy red clay that underlies the area, and their use now characterises older parts of the town.
6 . 1 . 8 Market house and the Cornmarket in Bampton Street were rebuilt in 1732, and comprised an open pillared raised ground floor area with a room over. John Wesley preached here frequently between 1750 and 1765, after the time when his brother, Samuel, was headmaster of Blundells School. The listed building was restored and converted to modern use by the Market and Almshouse Trust in 1971. Modern shops are set behind the pillars, with offices above.
6.2 A market town: the Pannier Market The Pannier Market is a hub for the development of many of the Economy Core Area Projects. The Plan supports the development an IT WORKPLACE FOR STALLHOLDERS AND TRAINING SUITE in the building. This will give market traders an opportunity to learn about and use the marketing facilities provided by the WEBNET PROJECT. The FESTIV (FEAST OF TIVERTON) PROJECT is planned and led by the manager and Friends of the Pannier Market, and supported by the Exe Valley Plan. It seeks to expand the events taking place regularly in the Pannier Market, including a monthly evening market. The FOOD FAIR PROJECT, which promotes an annual Food Fair in the town, is now partnered by FesTiv, and exploring links
through the outcomes of Every Child Matters with the FAMILY FESTIVAL PROJECT. After the success of the
pilot run in October 2006, the latter is set to become an annual event in Tiverton.The Pannier market is a destination point in the TOWN ENHANCEMENT SCHEME that covers the area of the town centre to the east as far as the new Tesco supermarket.
6.2.1 In 1825, the Pannier market and livestock pens replaced cottages and houses north of the Half Moon public house, a favourite meeting place of the fullers and weavers.
6.2.2 Most of the pens have now gone. The former pig pen area is now occupied on market days by a large fruit and vegetable stall.
6.2.3 The Pannier Market has recently undergone major refurbishment, with the covered walkways under wide eaves running the length of the building.
6.2.4 New lock up units have been added to the east of the Pannier Market building.
6.2.5 New rehearsal and storage rooms have been built to the west of the Pannier Market, north of the former pig pens, to house Tiverton Dramatic Society, which formerly stored their equipment and costumes on the upper floor of the Pannier Market, and Tiverton Operatic and Junior Operatic Societies. These are not available to other local performing arts groups.
6.2.6 The area surrounding the Pannier Market has been paved as a conservation area, and is an attractive setting for casual outdoor small scale street entertainment by single or small group travelling artists or local individuals and small groups.
6.2.7 The car park to the north has been landscaped and the Youth Drop-in Centre, formerly the calf shed, rebuilt.
6.3 Trading at the Pannier Market since the completion of refurbishment in April 2006 In September 2006:
6.3.1 There were 72 traders.
6.3.2 There was a waiting list of 15 traders wishing to hold stalls in the market.
6.3.3 There is careful attention to the balance of types of trade when allocating a stall to a new trader.
6.3.4 There has been a 30% increase in footfall through the market since refurbishment was completed.
6.3.5 There has been a 28% increase in numbers of traders in the Pannier Market complex.
6.3.6 There has been an 18% increase in revenue. The discrepancy between the last two figures is due to the special rates given when a trader begins.
6.4 Civic buildings and Tiverton Civic Society Mid Devon District Council recently relocated to new offices in Phoenix House by the River Lowman. The building also houses a new state of the art library. MDDC occupied the Town Hall, taken over from Tiverton Borough Council on the demise of the borough status of Tiverton in 1973. The listed Victorian Town Hall, erected by John Heathcoat, is a destination point for the TOWN ENHANCEMENT SCHEME.
6.4.1 The Victorian Town Hall, designed in Italian Renaissance style by Henry Lloyd of Bristol, and built by Williams and Parish in 1864, is currently undergoing major refurbishment, including lift access for the disabled. Once this is completed, the building will once again house Tiverton Town Council. The Citizens Advice Bureau have already relocated to the Town Hall from Gold Street.
6.4.2 Tiverton has an active Civic Society, with the motto, "Watch and Ward". The Society is a respondent for local Forward Planning documents and scans controversial planning applications, attending appropriate public consultations. It is concerned to preserve and enhance a quality urban environment, encouraging the historic heritage of the town to be valued and used to promote the sustainability of the local economy. It is actively involved in promoting the September Heritage Open Days with Mid Devon District Council.
The Exe Valley Plan -
