The new theatre is ok till you look at that massive square brick structure on the top,it then falls into the shire hall and market hall category.

The 1960s Market hall has a lot of integrity the shape is balanced and the detailing links with the historic buildings around it. The interior needs updating with new lifts and not being cosmetically Victorianised ! :(

The new theatre is too large for the site, as was the Guildhall. The ridiculous retention of the old chapel on the rear elevation says it all. I saw the computer images on a plasma screen for the new sculpture at the planning office and I like it.
A statue of Darwin as a boy skipping off to a beetle hunt in the Shropshire countryside was one suggestion in the Chronicle. Would that entail a twee looking boy with a written description of what he was doing underneath?

I see that the prospective new Town Council cannot be accommodated at Rowley's House, unless Morris properties who now seem to own Shrewsbury will dig into their pockets for 2 million or so it would need to make it feasible. Now planning decisions will go to the unitary council there is no incentive to do the town councillors any favours. <_<

Lemon.how can you say that the market hall with all those concrete slabs can fit in with its surroundings,the original Victorian struture did fit in but that was demolished.

The Old Victorian Market Hall was described as a monstrosity in it's time and it was severely criticized by Pevsner. It was typical over the top Victorian bling. ( BTW my sister in laws uncle died from a fall when working on the demolition apparently!)
The area was cleared of some valuable timber framed and Georgian buildings to build it in the 1860s too.
Did you know that the Victorians used concrete but saw it as a material that could be used in any shape or form and was therefore to them too untethered, organic, fluid and should be covered up like ladies legs had to be!!! As the Romans invented concrete they saw it as pagan too!

The first reinforced concrete building in the UK was the Liver building in Liverpool.
I think the 1960s Market hall is a good example of the architecture of that time and also works well in context to the older and not so old pastiche buildings aound it.
The tragic situation we have at the moment in Shrewsbury is a lack of good modern design instead acres and acres of watered down vaguely Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian mimicary.
The theatre is not a building that respects its context, is a poorly designed structure with a medley of cladding that confuses the eye and gives the building no integrity. Wood cladding next to stone cladding for example.
Still, I hope it will not end up a white elephant and also that it will not just cater for the ageing population of Shrewsbury. (that would be me too pretty soon!)

And did you know that the old Free Bridge at Jackfield was, i think, the first reinforced concrete bridge,they have part of it on display next to the new one.

I've got a book I would recommend anyone to read called Historic Bridges of Shropshire by Anthony Blackwall. (1919-1984)
He eventually became County Bridge Engineer and looked after about 1,000 bridges.

A hybrid of the very worst Shrewsbury architecture that's gone before. Absolute crud!

Went to the Music Hall (for the first time) to see West Side Story a few nights ago. To be honest if that's what's currently putting on our shows, then I couldn't care less what the building looked like at Frankwell. We need that theatre!

Someone once said you should never judge a building until its 90 years old!