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As soon as the Corn Exchange opened in 1858, it became a hub of Berwick life, beyond its role in business and finance. It was used for auctions, balls, entertainments, and many aspects of social life. It was also a venue for political and religious meetings, including many in connection with things such as the franchise, the temperance movement, licensing acts and fishing rights.  It ceased to function as a trading exchange by the early 1960s. It was then transformed to become the town’s swimming pool until 1998, and after that it was redeveloped to became a set of residential apartments.

 

Its history has been well represented in reports and advertisements in the local newspapers. Lars Rose has created a chronological transcript of items in the Berwick Advertiser in which the Corn Exchange is featured.  They record the events which took place there, often with detailed descriptions of proceedings, as well as listing the names of many individuals, both native to Berwick and visitors, who have been involved in its history. He has also written a narrative account of the Corn Exchange during the first 40 years of its existence:  click this link to download it as a PDF document:

 

“A Kaleidoscope of Victorian Life:
The Berwick-upon-Tweed Corn Exchange 1856-1895”
by Lars Rose
 

The links below will load the transcripts from the Berwick Advertiser for the period 1856-1896. 

 

Corn Exchange 1856-1858

 

Corn Exchange 1859-1862

 

Corn Exchange 1863-1866

 

Corn Exchange 1867-1870

 

Corn Exchange 1871-1873

 

Corn Exchange 1874

 

Corn Exchange 1875-1877

 

Corn Exchange 1878-1879

 

Corn Exchange 1880-1882

 

Corn Exchange 1883-1884

 

Corn Exchange 1885-1886

 

Corn Exchange 1887-1888

 

Corn Exchange 1889

 

Corn Exchange 1890

 

Corn Exchange 1891-1892

 

Corn Exchange 1893

 

Corn Exchange 1894-1895

 

Corn Exchange 1896