| Bentham Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 The building in 2018 | |
| Location | Station Road, Bentham |
| Coordinates | 54°07′04″N2°30′36″W / 54.1177°N 2.5099°W |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
  Shown in North Yorkshire | |
Bentham Town Hall, also known as High Bentham Town Hall, is a municipal building in Station Road, High Bentham, a town in North Yorkshire, England. The building currently accommdated Bentham Town Council but is also used as a community events venue and a tourist information office.
Following significant population growth, largely associated with the farming industry, parish leaders decided to commission a public hall for the town in the early 1870s. The new building was designed in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1877. [1]
The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto Station Road. The central bay featured a large opening flanked by brackets supporting a cornice on the ground floor and a tri-partite window with a window sill supported by brackets on the first floor. The outer bays were fenestrated by bi-partite windows on both floors. The frontage was surmounted by a gable with a panel inscribed "Public Hall 1877" in the tympanum. Internally, the principal rooms were a market hall on the ground floor, and an assembly hall on the first floor. [2]
A clock tower with a belfry and a dome was added in 1902. [3] A rectangular bronze plaque, intended to commemorate the lives of local service personnel who had died in the First World War, was attached to the front of the building in the early 1920s. [4] [5] [6] The town hall also served as a venue for local farm auctions; however, there was some derision in 1937, when the satirical magazine Punch quoted an unnamed local paper as reporting: "Three farmers in the Bentham District came under the hammer at a property sale held by Mr Richard Turner of Bentham in the Bentham Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon and were all disposed of". [7]
For much of the 20th century, the building served as the meeting place of the parish council: it was also used for concerts and theatre performances. [8] Following the re-organisation of local government in 1974, the parish council became Bentham Town Council. The town council continued to hold its meetings in the town hall. In 2004, an extensive programme of works, financed by a grant from North Yorkshire County Council, was initiated. The works included the installation of a new lobby area, a kitchen and a lift, as well as the creation of some office space. Amidst some rationalisation of local facilities, various services, including the town clerk's office and the tourist information office, were subsequently moved into the town hall. [9] [10] [11]
Bentham is a civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 3,027 at the 2011 Census. The parish includes the town of High Bentham, occasionally known as Higher Bentham or just Bentham, and the older adjacent village of Low Bentham.
The Old Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. The town hall, which was the meeting place of Hemel Hempstead Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Shipley Town Hall is a municipal structure in Kirkgate in Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. It was the headquarters of Shipley Urban District Council.
Godalming Borough Hall is a municipal building in Bridge Street in Godalming, England. The building was the meeting place of Godalming Town Council.
Settle Town Hall is a municipal building in Cheapside in Settle, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which was the meeting place of Settle Rural District Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Otley Civic Centre is a municipal structure in Cross Green, Otley, West Yorkshire, England. The structure, which was the offices and meeting place of Otley Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
South Cave Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, South Cave, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The building, which is the meeting place of South Cave Parish Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Fordingbridge Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England. The structure, which is the meeting place of Fordingbridge Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Leyburn Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which is used for retail purposes and as an events venue, is a grade II listed building.
Kirriemuir Town Hall is a municipal structure in Reform Street in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.
New Cumnock Town Hall is a municipal building in Castle, New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.
Anstruther Town Hall is a municipal building in School Green, Anstruther Easter, Fife, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.
Falkland Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Falkland, Fife, Scotland. The structure, which has been converted for use as offices and as shops, is a Category A listed building.
Wick Sheriff Court is a judicial structure in Bridge Street, Wick, Caithness, Scotland. The structure, which remains in use as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.
Malton Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which is used as a restaurant, is a grade II listed building.
The Old Town Hall is a former municipal building in the High Street, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, England. The structure, which is currently used as a public house, is a locally listed building.
Hornsea Town Hall is a municipal building in Newbegin in Hornsea, a town in the East Riding of Yorkshire in England. The building began life as a Wesleyan school, then became a church hall and finally became a town hall.
Stanhope Town Hall is a former municipal building on Front Street, Stanhope, a town in County Durham, England. The building is not currently in use and is being marketed for sale.
Dalton Town Hall is a municipal building in Station Road, Dalton-in-Furness, a town in Cumbria, England. The building, which accommodates the offices and meeting place of Dalton-in-Furness Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Grassington Town Hall is a municipal building in Main Street, Grassington, a town in North Yorkshire, England. The complex is in three parts comprising the original building, a large assembly hall behind, and a theatre behind that. The complex is managed by the Grassington Devonshire Institute.
the domed clock turret added in 1902 to the entirely plain Public Hall, 1877
2 to 4 March, King John, Bentham Phoenix Players, Bentham Town Hall, Lancashire