Grade-II Bridgnorth building added to 'Victorian Society’s endangered' list 2026 after campaign to save it

A neglected- but-still-iconic building in Bridgnorth has been added to a ‘top 10’ list for endangered buildings following campaigns to save it.

New Market Hall, a Grade-II building on Bridgnorth’s High Street, is a striking polychromatic Italianate Victorian-style building built between 1855 and 1859. It was commissioned by the Borough Board of Health, established under the Public Health Act 1848, in partnership with a private company.

The building was intended to serve as a multi-functional civic hub, housing a covered market, offices, public rooms, a town hall and assembly rooms, reflecting the ambition of Victorian urban improvement schemes.

However, the building did not work well as a market because local traders did not want to move inside and preferred selling in the open market square. After this, the building was used for many different purposes, including offices, shops, workshops, a supermarket, and a Museum of Childhood.

Today, the New Market Hall is in very poor condition. The ground floor is still partly used, but the upper floors are empty and falling into disrepair.

Now, the building is featured on this year’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings List 2026 by the Victorian Society, the sole charity campaigning for Victorian and Edwardian built heritage across England and Wales.

The Victorian Society is urging the owners either to bring forward a viable scheme without further delay or to place the building on the market to allow a new custodian to secure its future as they believe it should “play a central role in civic life.“

Speaking of the listing, Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: “They are building huge enclosed shopping centres which threaten the high street and here is a purpose made building on the high street standing by and perfect for small shops, cafes and a new life. This is the centre of town. This is the centre of urban life. Stand by and make something of it.”

James Hughes, Director of the Victorian Society, added: “This is a building that was designed to serve the heart of Bridgnorth, and could do so again. With the right vision and commitment, it could once again be a focal point for the town. What is needed now is decisive action to secure its future before further damage is done.”

The news comes following reports that campaigns to preserve New Market Hall had made steps forward last year. Huw Rees started his campaign to save New Market Building also called New Market Hall back in 2024.

Mr Rees, who is now a town councillor, said the building in the high street had fallen into "a dangerous state". A petition started by Huw garnered more than 1,000 signatures, sparking a debate at Shropshire Council on the future of the building.

Conservative MP for South Shropshire, Stuart Anderson, also backed the campaign.

See the full Victorian Society’s Top 10 Endangered Buildings 2026 (in no particular order):

• Hackney Borough Disinfecting Station, London. Grade II, Gordon and Gunton, 1901
• Tees Transporter Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees/Middlesbrough. Grade II*, Engineer: G.C. Imbault, constructed by Sir William Arrol and Co Ltd, 1911
• New Market Hall, Bridgnorth. Grade II, Robert Griffiths of Quatford, 1855 -1859
• Former Strand Railway Station and Railway Men’s Club, Barrow in Furness. Grade II, E. G. Paley, 1863
• Faenol (Vaynol) Mausoleum, Pentir, Nr Bangor. Grade II, Henry Kennedy of Bangor, late 1870s.
• Oakes School, Huddersfield. Grade II, Charles Fowler, 1873; extended by Ben Stocks, 1885
• Parndon Hall, Harlow. Grade II, Possibly Joseph Clarke, 1867
• St Michael’s RC Cemetery Chapel, Sheffield. Grade II, Charles Hadfield, 1898
• Derby School of Art, Derby. Grade II*, F.W. Waller, 1876 with additions 1899
• Former Library and Mechanics Institute, Devonport. Grade II, A, Norman, 1843-44