2-324-101 - www.picturethepast.org.uk/Nottingham City Council /Heritage Images

West prospect of Nottingham Market Place, Nottinghamshire, 1726. View showing the Exchange building. By the 17th century, a group of buildings existed at the High Street end which included butchers and other shops, plus shambles, public houses and exhibition booths. Above these a room was built, the 'Spice Chamber', in which groceries were sold and, possibly, some civic events took place. In 1723 the Nottingham Corporation ordered that a new building should be erected in the Market Place with all the necessary expedition and on Friday, 19th March 1724 this matter was discussed by the Hall (Council). Building began later that year. The 'Exchange', as the new building was named was completed in 1726 but, by 1815, it needed considerable repair and remodelling. In 1877, the Corporation decided to move, from the old Council House in Weekday Cross, but their needs were not satisfied and they soon had to use temporary accommodation for Council matters. It was then found that further repairs and alterations were necessary to the Exchange. Dissatisfaction relating to Corporation Members' accommodation continued and, in September 1920, the Estates Committee were pressed to come up with a scheme for the site the Exchange stood on. The Exchange was demolished and replaced by a new building, the Council House, completed in 1929.