The Queen's Hall Hexham venue celebrates 40th anniversary

In 1857, the Corn Exchange Company was formed with an ambition to build a permanent home for weekly agricultural markets and fairs in a building housing a mixture of private and public activity - offices in the north wing, the Corn Exchange in the centre and the Town Hall in the south wing.

The Earl of Gowrie, who unveiled the plaque to celebrate the opening of the new £1.3m Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, on Saturday, October 22 1983 (Image: Hexham Courant)

The Queen's Hall building opened on September 13 1866, for a total cost of £8,000.

Between 1866 and 1917 the Queen’s Hall hosted balls, concerts and recitals, and had a music hall.

READ MORE: Plans for 63 new homes in town rejected by councillors

READ MORE: Queen's Hall announces spring programme

People gathering in the new library, to celebrating the opening of the £1.3m Queen's Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, on Saturday, October 22 1983 (Image: Hexham Courant)

The Corn Exchange itself became less used as the agricultural economy hit hard times and the building was used more as a lettings space for private parties, exhibitions and indoor sports activities.

A captive audience in the new auditorium, as the Earl of Gowrie prepares to unveil the plaque, at the £1.3m Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, on Saturday, October 22 1983 (Image: Hexham Courant)

It closed in 1917, before being bought in 1921 by the The Hexham Entertainments Company, formed by Thomas Herbert Scott, and the south wing was transformed into the 650-seat Queen’s Cinema.

The Queen's Hall on Beaumont Street (Image: Anderson and Garland)

Three years later the Corn Exchange became the Queen’s Hall ballroom, with a dance floor known for its 1,000 springs.

The Queen's Hall (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

As well as regular Saturday evening dances, the ballroom hosted major events in the social calendar of the time including the Hunt Ball with attendances often reaching the 900-person capacity. 

The Queen's Hall (Image: Hexham Courant)

The business prospered and even significant damage to the cinema in a fire in February 1931 was quickly dealt with.

The Queen's Hall (Image: NQ)

The building was acquired by Queen's Hall Arts, the charitable company which now manages the venue, in 2001.

The Queen's Hall (Image: Jason Thompson Sound Ideas Media)

In 2003, reception areas were opened out to create spacious rooms and gallery spaces with improved accessibility.

In 2004, the theatre was renovated and re-seated, and in 2008 the north wing was developed and spaces restored to their original proportions to be let out to creative businesses.