By
the 18th century the corn market at Bear Quay was unable to cope with
the growth in the trade. Several corn merchants joined together and
raised the money needed to build a new market place. Designed by J.
W. Wood, the Corn Exchange at Mark Lane was completed in 1750. An
extension was added in 1827.
Rudolf
Ackermann, Corn Exchange, from Microcosm of London (1808)
(1)
William Pyne, The
Microcosm of London (1808)
The
Corn Exchange is a very handsome building on the east side of Mark
Lane. Next to the street is an ascent of three steps to a range of
eight lofty Doric columns. These columns support a plain building
two stories high, which contains two coffee houses, to which there
are ascents by a flight of handsome stone steps on each side of the
edifice.
The income of the propriety is derived from letting the stands, or
small boxes, to the different factors and dealers, who pay about ten
guineas per annum: the number of these boxes is about sixty-four,
and they are usually in great request.
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