Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Edinburgh Corn Exchange
LocationNew Market Road, Edinburgh
Coordinates55°55′38″N 3°14′52″W / 55.9273°N 3.2479°W / 55.9273; -3.2479
Built1910
ArchitectJames A. Williamson
Architectural style(s)Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Category B
Official name11, New Market Road, Corn Exchange
Designated16 June 1992
Reference no.LB30282
Edinburgh Corn Exchange is located in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Shown in Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Corn Exchange (since 2021 known as the O2 Academy Edinburgh[1]) is an events and concert venue located in New Market Road in Edinburgh, Scotland. The structure, which was commissioned as a corn exchange, is a Category B listed building.[2]

History

The first location where merchants could trade in agricultural products in Edinburgh was on the High Street. Cattle, horse, and grain markets moved to the Grassmarket in the 15th century, and it was at the corn exchange in the Grassmarket, which was designed by David Cousin and completed in the mid-19th century,[3] that the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, made a speech in 1884.[4] In the late 19th century civic officials sought to relocate the markets out of the city centre: the site they selected was in the Chesser area of the city some 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southwest of the city centre.[5]

The new building was designed by the City Superintendent of Works, James A. Williamson, in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone and was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian, Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, on 23 June 1910.[5] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of eleven bays facing northeast onto New Market Road, with the end sections projected forward as pavilions. The central section of five bays featured a loggia formed by four Doric order columns supporting an entablature, a cornice and a parapet. At the back of the loggia was a central doorway with an architrave flanked by two single windows on either side. The end sections of three bays each were fenestrated with sash windows and surmounted by an entablature, a cornice, a parapet, and a small central pediment on each side.[2]

The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture.[6] After a long period of disuse, it was acquired by Marco's Leisure in 1992 and, after a major refurbishment, re-opened as an events and concert venue in 1999.[7] Meanwhile, the area to the southwest of the building, i.e. behind the building, was developed as the Corn Exchange Village with facilities such as ten pin bowling, an indoor mini golf course, 5-a-side and 7-a-side football pitches, and a sports bar.[8]

Performers at the corn exchange have included the rock band, Blur, in 1999,[9] the rock band, Manic Street Preachers, in 2007[10] and the Indie rock band, Kaiser Chiefs, in 2009.[11] There were protests outside the corn exchange when the UK Independence Party leader, Nigel Farage, arrived to give a speech in May 2014.[12] The venue was acquired by the Academy Music Group in August 2021 and renamed O2 Academy Edinburgh.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Music industry giants snap up historic Edinburgh concert venue". Edinburgh Evening News. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "11, New Market Road, Corn Exchange (LB30282)". Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Dalkeith Corn Exchange Museum". Visually Impaired Person Awareness. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  4. ^ Speech by the Right Hon. W.E. Gladstone in the Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, on Monday, 1 September 1884.
  5. ^ a b "Corn Exchange and New Markets". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ Fletcher, T. W. (1973). 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in British Agriculture 1875-1914. London: Methuen. p. 31. ISBN 978-1136581182.
  7. ^ "Corn Exchange: Historic venue becomes O2 Academy Edinburgh". The National. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. ^ "World of Football". Groupon. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Corn Exchange renamed O2 Academy Edinburgh after huge deal for historic venue". Edinburgh Live. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. ^ "New Tour Pressale". Manic Street Preachers. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs announce 2009 arena tour". NME. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  12. ^ "In pictures: Protesters gather in Edinburgh as UKIP leader Nigel Farage delivers speech". The Daily Record. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
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