Redesdale Hall (Town Hall)

The opportunity to replace an old 18th century market hall, which had become dilapidated, arose following the death of the writer of religious polemics, John Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale, in 1886. The earl, who had died unmarried, left all his estates to his distant cousin, Bertram Freeman-Mitford, who duly became lord of the manor and decided to erect a new building, in memory of his generous cousin, for benefit of the inhabitants of the town. It was designed by Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto in the Free Tudor style, built by Peto Brothers of Pimlico in ashlar stone and was officially opened by the Minister without Portfolio, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, on 2 December 1887. The…