Shambles lit up for Christmas

05/12/2006

Market traders in the Shambles in Hexham are now able to enjoy access to a power supply to light their stalls and power their chillers without the use of noisy generators thanks to the Routeways project which was carried out by the Hexham Community Partnership. Regular traders are already making use of this facility and the Farmers Market will benefit from the power supply for the first time at the Hexham Christmas Market on Saturday 9th December.

This project, whose main purpose was to help the town to maintain and develop it’s status as a visitor destination, was carried out thanks to support from Northumberland Strategic Partnership, Northumberland County Council, Tynedale Council, Northumbrian Water Pipeline Fund and Hexham Town Council. Other work involved repairs to the Shambles - including two new stone columns replacing some severely damaged old ones, and if you are out in Hexham after dark you will notice that the roof of the Shambles is now lit up. Every attempt has been made to ensure that the historic character of the Shambles has been retained while making it a much more attractive feature of the Market Place. While The Shambles cannot compete with the Abbey and the Moothall it nevertheless continues to play an important part in the life of the town as it has for many centuries. The lighting, directed up into the roof space allows the Shambles to hold its own next to its more illustrious neighbours.

On Friday at 6pm the lights will be switched on officially by the Mayor of Hexham Councillor Barry Pickering as a part of the Hexham Late Night Shopping event, when refreshments will be being served in the Shambles thanks to the Rotary Club of Hexham and members of the Inner Wheel.

Northumbrian Water’s Chris Watson, who will also attend the light switch on, said:  “Access to power will make a significant difference to traders in the Shambles and the lights will also enhance the appearance of this part of the Market Place.  We are pleased to be able to contribute to the Routeways project from Northumbrian Water Pipeline Fund and help to attract people to one of the North East’s most beautiful towns.” 

Another element of the Routeways project was the installation of the interpretation panels and plaques around the town centre. These feature various parts of Hexham at significant times in their history. The plaque on the Abbey Flags illustrates the Market Place in medieval times, as busy as ever. The panels will form the focus of a series of 3 walks which are being developed by the Hexham Community Partnership and will be produced in a booklet available early next year. Visitors will be encouraged to explore the less well known parts of the town, such as the old tannery area, and to understand the way the history of the town has influenced its development over the centuries, from the re-use of Roman stones in the Abbey, to the building of Beaumont Street. The walks are all designed to start in the Market Place and include a route to and from the Railway Station and the Tourist Information Centre, which can form alternative starting points for visitors.
Roy Dallison Chair of the Hexham Community Partnership said: "The lighting of the Shambles is a very satisfactory conclusion the first phase of the Routeways project. The Partnership is already planning further development of this scheme which we consider to be on going and a major contribution to the vitality of the town."

Media Contacts: Tamsin Beevor, Hexham Community Partnership 01434 652 367.