| Batley Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 Batley Town Hall | |
| Location | Batley |
| Coordinates | 53°42′51″N1°38′00″W / 53.7141°N 1.6332°W Coordinates: 53°42′51″N1°38′00″W / 53.7141°N 1.6332°W |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Designated | 13 January 1984 |
| Reference no. | 1300324 |
  Shown in West Yorkshire | |
Batley Town Hall is a municipal facility in the Market Place in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. [1]
The building, which was designed in the neoclassical style, was paid for by public subscription and opened as the local mechanics' institute in 1854. [1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the Market Place; the central section of three bays, which slightly projected forward, featured a round-headed doorway with a fanlight flanked by engaged Ionic order columns; there was a balcony together with a projecting flagpole and three square-headed sash windows flanked by Ionic order pilasters on the first floor and there was a large pediment at roof level. [1] [2] The building incorporated a public library and, like other mechanics institutes, it provided adult education, particularly in technical subjects, for working men. [3] Its activities led to the formation of the Batley Choral Society which continued to deliver performances into the early 20th century. [4]
After Batley was incorporated as a municipal borough in December 1868, [5] the borough council initially met in a room on the first floor of the Wilton Arms Hotel in Commercial Street. [6] [7] However, after finding this arrangement inadequate, civic leaders chose to lease and then acquire the former mechanics institute, which was only 350 yards (320 m) away, as their new headquarters from 1874. [3]
In the 19th century the town hall defined the competition area for local sporting activities. The Heavy Woollen District Junior Cricket League Trophy was first competed for in 1883: competing teams, which came from the woollen mills and Sunday schools of the local area, were initially required to be located within a six-mile radius of the town hall: this requirement was subsequently relaxed and extended to an eighteen-mile radius of the building. [8] [9]
After the town hall was badly damaged in a fire in September 1902, civic leaders initially considered a proposal to build a completely new structure but eventually decided to refurbish the existing building; the local firm of Walter Hanstock & Son, which duly carried out the works, was also responsible for an extension to the rear which included a council chamber, a mayor's parlour and council offices which opened in July 1905. [3] [10] The town hall continued to serve as the headquarters of Batley Borough Council but it ceased to be the local seat of government on the formation of the enlarged Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in 1974. [11] The assembly hall on the first floor of the building continued to be used by the local community for concerts and theatrical productions. [12] A blue plaque commemorating the history of the building was unveiled by the Batley History Group in September 2019. [6]
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in England. It is an inland and, in relative terms, upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972 and has a population of 2.3 million. Its largest settlements are Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Keighley and Dewsbury.
Batley is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. Batley lies south-west of Leeds, north-west of Wakefield and Dewsbury, south-east of Bradford and north-east of Huddersfield. Batley is part of the Heavy Woollen District. In 2011 the population of Batley including Hanging Heaton, Staincliffe, Carlinghow, Birstall, Birstall Smithies, Copley Hill and Howden Clough was 48,730.
Mirfield is a town and civil parish in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the A644 road between Brighouse and Dewsbury. At the 2011 census it had a population of 19,563. Mirfield forms part of the Heavy Woollen District.
Cleckheaton is a town in the Metropolitan borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds. It is at the centre of the Spen Valley and was the major town in the former borough of Spenborough. Cleckheaton has a history as a mill town and forms part of the Heavy Woollen District.
Kirklees is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, governed by Kirklees Council with the status of a metropolitan borough. The largest town and administrative centre of Kirklees is Huddersfield, and the district also includes Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite. Kirklees had a population of 422,500 in 2011; it is also the third largest metropolitan district in England by area size, behind Doncaster and Leeds.
Huddersfield is a large market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Huddersfield was a prominent mill town in the industrial revolution. To the town's west are the Pennines, south is the River Holme's discharge into the similar-sized Colne. The town's historic county is the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Heckmondwike is a town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England, 9 miles (14 km) south west of Leeds. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge. It is mostly in the Batley and Spen parliamentary constituency, and had an estimated population of 17,066 in March 2001, reducing to 16,986 at the 2011 Census. Heckmondwike forms part of the Heavy Woollen District.
The Heavy Woollen District is a region of textile-focused industrial development in West Yorkshire, England. It acquired the name because of the heavyweight cloth manufactured there from the early 19th century.
Liversedge is a town and former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Liversedge lies between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike. The Kirklees ward is now called Liversedge and Gomersal with a population at the 2011 Census of 19,420. Liversedge forms part of the Heavy Woollen District.
Birstall is a large village in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. It is part of Birstall and Birkenshaw ward which had a population of 16,298 at the 2011 census. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and part of the Heavy Woollen District, the town is approximately 6 miles (10 km) south-west of Leeds and situated close to the M62 motorway. The village is situated between Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
Kirklees Council is the local authority providing most local government services for the borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan district council and one of five constituent councils of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Barry Council Office and Library is a local government building and public library located in King Square, Barry, Wales. The building, which was once the meeting place of Barry Municipal Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Huddersfield Town Hall is a municipal facility in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. It is a Grade II listed building.
Leigh Town Hall is a municipal building in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. It stands in Civic Square at the junction with Market Street, facing Leigh parish church. It was built in 1907 and granted grade II listed building status in 1987.
Bagshaw Museum is a local museum in the town of Batley, West Yorkshire. Situated in Wilton Park, the elaborate Gothic Revival mansion was converted into a museum by Walter Bagshaw in 1911. Originally called the Wilton Park Museum, it was renamed after Bagshaw following his death in 1927.
The Heavy Woollen District Independents is a political party based in the Heavy Woollen District of West Yorkshire, England. The party was registered with the Electoral Commission on 13 September 2017. Its leader is Aleksandar Lukic, who was the chairman for UKIP's Dewsbury, Batley and Spen branch until 2017.
The Town Hall, Christchurch is a municipal building in Christchurch, Dorset, England. The building, which incorporates a room known as the mayor's parlour on the first floor, and is a Grade II listed building. It is currently the base of Christchurch Town Council.
Ossett Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Ossett, West Yorkshire, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Ossett Borough Council is a grade II listed building.
Eccles Town Hall is a municipal building in Church Street, Eccles, Greater Manchester, England. The town hall was the headquarters of Eccles Borough Council until the council was abolished in 1974.
Wath Hall is a former private residence and former municipal structure in Church Street, Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire, England. The hall, which was the headquarters of Wath upon Dearne Urban District Council Council, is a Grade II listed building.