Hexham's Shambles Market Place, a Grade-II listed covered market dating back more than 250 years, will be closed this week to complete the final stages of a £400,000 restoration project. The work, which began last year, requires the application of a protective coating to the new floor, a task that could not be carried out during the wetter winter months.
Market Traders Relocated During Closure
From Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 25, the usual market traders will operate outside Hexham Abbey on the Abbey Flags. This arrangement will continue until July 6 while the coating is applied and allowed to dry thoroughly.
Mayor Raises Concerns Over Parking
Mayor of Hexham and county councillor for Hexham West, Coun Derek Kennedy, welcomed the near completion of the restoration but expressed concerns about unresolved parking issues. He noted that vehicles repeatedly crash into the Shambles structure, causing significant damage. Plans to convert existing bays into parallel parking spots to reduce this risk have not yet been implemented.
Coun Kennedy said: "Obviously I recognise this needs to be done and at an appropriate time when it's dry, but this work was all supposed to be done in 2025. We're now in the middle of 2026. What is more concerning is that they still haven't completed the car park, which was also supposed to be done last year and is yet to be done. We have pushed the council to say when they're going to rejig the car park."
Council Responds to Concerns
A spokeswoman for Northumberland County Council responded: "We are nearly finished the restoration of the historic Shambles building with just a few essential jobs remaining which could not be undertaken during the winter months. Parallel parking spaces are to be introduced beside the Shambles adding to a row of bollards already protecting it. This will change the way drivers park reducing the risk of driving 'head on' towards the structure. The planned one-way system into the car park from Fore Street will also be made permanent, stopping vehicle movements in both directions."
The council also confirmed that market traders and local businesses have provided valuable input during the planning of these final works.
