Dalkeith Corn Exchange

About Dalkeith Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange was built on the site of the old flesh market. Designed by David Cousin, it was funded through public subscription. It opened in 1854 and was the largest indoor grain market in Scotland. The building had an extremely important role in the social, political and cultural life of the community.
It was used for large gatherings of all kinds including lectures, concerts, theatre and exhibitions.
Gladstone spoke to 3,000 people there in 1879 and Churchill addressed 1,000 in 1904. In the 1950's, when known as the Empress Ballroom, 800 people used to dance there on a Sunday night! The building was restored in 2014 to accommodate new offices for Melville Housing and Dalkeith Museum.