History

The rapid development of the weavers’ settlement in the 1820s was accompanied by rapid economic development of the town. As early as in 1821, 62 butchers had their businesses here. Over time, this number more than trebled. The land plot for the construction of butcher stalls and bakery stalls was donated by the owner of the town - Antoni Ostrowski. It was conveniently located, being in the immediate vicinity of the main square of the town, St. Joseph’s Square (currently T. Kościuszko Square). The source literature mentions two dates of the construction in this building. According to older sources, it took place between 1837 and 1838. According to more recent source literature and archival materials, the construction was commenced as early as 1830, but due to numerous obstacles it was not completed until 1837 or 1838. The building was designed by the architect Jan Tapiłowski. It was initially planned as a two-storey building, but only one storey was eventually built. It accommodated 10 commercial premises. The butcher stalls existed until the end of the 1960s. The building fell into disrepair as it had not been renovated for many years. The authorities of the town ordered a major renovation of the building, which lasted from 1970 to 1971. After its completion, the formed butcher stalls reopened as the Gallery Under the Arcades. Nowadays, the gallery is in private hands. Several years ago, it was renovated again, following a fire in 2012.

Description

The butcher stalls are situated in the north-eastern corner of T. Kosciuszko Square, at Rzeźnicza Street.

Neoclassicism. The butcher stalls were built on a floor plan of an elongated rectangle.

The building was built from limestone, with some brick elements. It is covered with a shed roof.

From the north, south and east, the building is adjoined by other buildings. The western elevation plays the role of the façade. Originally, its front part was an arcaded gallery. After having been filled with woodwork, the arcade openings now serve as display windows. It is ten-axial, with the axes defined by the arcades supported by pillars. They are separated by pilasters. The whole is crowned by two separate cornices, of which the higher one is more pronounced.

Adapted for contemporary use.

The building can be viewed from outside all year round; it can be visited inside during the opening hours of the Gallery.

Compiled by Anna Michalska, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Łódź. 15 April 2020

Bibliography

• 220 lat Tomaszowa Mazowieckiego, materiały z sesji naukowej, Tomaszów 2008
• Ród Ostrowskich w dziejach Tomaszowa i Rzeczypospolitej, materiały z sesji naukowej, Tomaszów 1991
• Archiwum Miasta Tomaszowa Mazowieckiego, gr I zesp. 7 sygn. 37