Winster Market House

A Monument to Winster's Mining Prosperity

Winster Market House stands as a tangible reminder of the village's golden age as a thriving market town and lead-mining centre. Built during the 16th century, the exact construction date remains unrecorded, but the building's architectural style and historical records suggest it was commissioned by the lords of the manor, Gervase and Anthony Eyre of Newbold Manor from 1570 onwards. The structure was designed in the neoclassical style and completed in coursed stone and red brick, creating a distinctive visual landmark that has dominated Main Street for nearly five centuries. The building's prominence reflects Winster's importance during the late 17th and 18th centuries, when lead mining transformed the village from a modest settlement into one of Derbyshire's largest and most prosperous towns, with a population reaching approximately 2,000 by 1750.

Architectural Design and Original Function

The Market House exemplifies the practical elegance of Georgian market architecture. The ground floor was originally completely open, supported by five short columns with imposts bearing stone arches, allowing markets to be held freely beneath a protective roof. This design permitted cattle, sheep, horses, and agricultural goods to be bought and sold in the open air while providing shelter from the elements. The first floor housed an assembly hall, a grand space where the community gathered for social and civic occasions. The building features a symmetrical main frontage of two bays facing north onto Main Street, with the end bays topped by gables containing distinctive oval-shaped oculi. The upper chamber was constructed primarily from brick, creating a pleasing visual contrast with the stone arches and facings below. The principal interior room was the assembly room on the first floor, fitted with cross-windows featuring stone surrounds that allowed natural light to flood the space.

Decline and Transformation Through the Centuries

As Winster's fortunes changed, so too did the Market House. The arches on the ground floor were infilled with coursed stone, probably during the first half of the 19th century, as the market's importance waned between 1795 and 1855. The agricultural depression of the late 19th century dealt a severe blow to the building's primary function. Lead mining, which had sustained the village's economy, faced increasing challenges from flooding in the deeper workings, forcing mines to close progressively. The last working mine at Mill Close, two miles northeast of Winster, operated until 1938. As markets declined and the community dispersed, the Market House fell vacant and deteriorated rapidly. By the end of the 19th century, it had become almost derelict, and the upper storey was removed for safety reasons in 1904.

National Trust Acquisition and Restoration

In 1906, the Market House was purchased from Joseph Greatorex, owner of the Old Bowling Green Inn, for the modest sum of £50, making it the first property ever acquired by the National Trust in Derbyshire and one of the earliest buildings taken into the Trust's care nationally. The acquisition was largely funded through donations raised by Mrs Childers Thompson, reflecting the building's recognised historical significance. The restoration was undertaken with meticulous attention to authenticity. William Weir, architect to the National Trust, drew up the plans, while local labour was employed under the supervision of Henry Rye, architect to the Duke of Rutland. Wherever possible, original materials were reused, and the building's original lines were carefully followed, ensuring that the restoration honoured the structure's historical integrity.

Contemporary Role as Exhibition Centre

Today, the Market House functions as a visitor exhibition and information centre, welcoming those interested in Winster's remarkable past. The assembly room has been fitted with interpretation panels that detail the village's history, with particular emphasis on its significance to the mining industry. A scale model of Winster village is displayed, helping visitors understand the settlement's layout and development. The building remains Grade II* listed, reflecting its architectural and historical importance. Standing almost at the centre of Main Street, flanked by the Dower House at the other end, the Market House continues to dominate the village's streetscape, serving as a physical embodiment of Winster's transition from a prosperous market town to a quieter rural community.

Winster's Broader Historical Context

The Market House cannot be understood in isolation from Winster's wider story. The village's name, first recorded in Domesday Book in 1086 as Winsterne, possibly derives from 'Wyn's thorn tree', suggesting a local landmark of ancient significance. The village occupies an upland location 215 to 275 metres above sea level in a broad valley where limestone and shale geology create distinctive walled fields and a mixture of building materials. Lead mining, possibly dating to Roman times, became the dominant economic force from the late 17th century onwards. The Portway, a prehistoric trade route, passes close to the village, and salt routes from Cheshire and the 18th-century turnpike road from Nottingham to Newhaven also contributed to Winster's development and prosperity. The Market House stands alongside other grand buildings such as Winster Hall, while humble cottages on Winster Bank represent the modest homes of miners, quarrymen, and agricultural workers whose labour built the village's wealth.