Loughborough Town Hall

Last updated

Loughborough Town Hall
Town Hall - Market Place (geograph 2938168).jpg
Loughborough Town Hall
LocationMarket Place, Loughborough
Coordinates 52°46′15″N1°12′23″W / 52.77086°N 1.20638°W / 52.77086; -1.20638
Built1855
Architect William Slater
Architectural style(s) Italianate style
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated5 November 1984
Reference no.1361164
Leicestershire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Leicestershire

The Loughborough Town Hall is a building fronting onto the Market Place in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. Built as a corn exchange and ballroom in 1855, it later became a municipal building and subsequently a theatre. It is a Grade II listed building. [1] The building is still used for full council meetings of Charnwood Borough Council.

Contents

History

The origins of the building lie in the early 19th century, when four Loughborough tradesmen began a movement to provide the town with a public gathering place. It received much more momentum with the involvement of the local MP, Charles Packe of Prestwold Hall, who donated £500 towards the enterprise. [2] With his backing, other local gentry got on board, and £8,012 was raised for the purchase of land and the construction of the building. [3]

The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Charles Packe in October 1854: it was designed by the Northampton-born architect William Slater in the Italianate style, [4] built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1855. [2] [5] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with nine 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 two rounded headed sash windows separated by Doric order columns supporting an entablature and a balcony. [1] On the first floor there were round headed sash windows separated by Ionic order columns supporting an entablature and a cornice and, at roof level, there was a two-stage decorative bellcote. [1] The outer sections on both floors were also fenestrated by round headed sash windows. [1] The clock, which hangs from the main frontage of the building, was designed and manufactured (by G. & F. Cope of Nottingham) [6] in 1879 and installed in 1880. [7] The bell, which was cast by John Taylor & Co, based in Loughborough, was also installed at that time. [8] Both were given by Edward Basil Farnham. [7]

The primary uses in its earliest days were as a ground floor corn exchange hall, where local farmers could meet and trade. Upstairs was a ballroom for the use of the gentry. However, from the outset all manor of public gatherings and entertainments were able to make use of the premises. Until 1888 Loughborough had no town charter and was administered by the lord of the manor, and more latterly by local boards with specific responsibility for water and sanitation works, highways, schools, and burials. [2] When Loughborough received a charter in 1888, the new council took on these roles for the town, and was in need of a suitably dignified administrative base. The Corn Exchange company agreed to sell the building and, after it had been converted into a town hall, it re-opened as a municipal building in 1890. [4]

The suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, spoke at Loughborough Town Hall during the 1910 General Election. [9]

During the Second World War the council acquired a large house called Southfields on Southfield Road, which after the war was converted to become its main offices. [10] The town hall continued to be used as a venue for council meetings. This pattern continued following local government reorganisation in 1974, which saw the Borough of Loughborough absorbed into the larger Borough of Charnwood. [11] Charnwood likewise has its main offices at Southfields (which was substantially extended in 1990) [12] but holds full council meetings at Loughborough Town Hall. [13]

The town hall was damaged during a serious fire in 1972. [14] The building was converted into a theatre to the designs of Goodwin, Warner and Associates between 1973 and 1974. [4] An extensive refurbishment of the building, which was undertaken by G. F. Tomlinson at a cost of £5 million, was completed in November 2004. [15] [16]

On 15 March 2023, a fire broke out in a branch of HSBC next to the town hall and spread to the roof of the building. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leicestershire</span> County of England

Leicestershire is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warwickshire to the south-west, and Staffordshire to the west. The city of Leicester is the largest settlement and the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loughborough</span> Town in Leicestershire, England

Loughborough is a market town in the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England; it is the administrative centre of Charnwood Borough Council. At the United Kingdom 2021 census, the town's built-up area had a population of 64,884.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Charnwood</span> Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

Charnwood is a local government district with borough status in the north of Leicestershire, England. It is named after Charnwood Forest, much of which lies within the borough. Towns in the borough include Loughborough, Shepshed and Syston. Villages in the borough include Barrow upon Soar, Birstall, Hathern, Mountsorrel, Quorn, Rothley, Sileby and Woodhouse Eaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepshed</span> Town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England

Shepshed is a market town and civil parish in the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England with a population of 14,875 at the 2021 census. It is the second biggest settlement in the borough, after the town of Loughborough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burton on the Wolds</span> Village in Leicestershire, England

Burton on the Wolds is a village in Leicestershire, England situated on the B676 road 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the A46 and about the same distance to the east of Loughborough, close to the county border with Nottinghamshire. In the 2011 census, the population was measured at 1,218. The Parish Council of Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold serves the village and its two neighbouring hamlets. The local borough council is Charnwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loughborough (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Loughborough is a constituency in Leicestershire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Jeevun Sandher of the Labour Party. The constituency is a considered a bellwether, as it has reflected the national result at every general election since February 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town Hall, Richmond</span> Municipal building in London, England

The Old Town Hall, Richmond on Whittaker Avenue in Richmond, London is a former municipal building which from 1893 to 1965 served as the town hall for the Municipal Borough of Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornaby Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, England

Thornaby Town Hall is a municipal building in the Mandale Road in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. The building, which is owned by Thornaby Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidderminster Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England

Kidderminster Town Hall is the town hall of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. The complex, which includes the corn exchange and the town hall and is the home of Kidderminster Town Council, is grade II listed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighouse Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England

Brighouse Town Hall is a former municipal building in Thornton Square, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Brighouse Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tewkesbury Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England

Tewkesbury Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Tewkesbury Town Council, is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal Buildings, Dorchester</span> Municipal building in Dorset, England

The Municipal Buildings, also known as the Corn Exchange and Town Hall, are located on the north side of High East Street in Dorchester, Dorset, England. The structure, which incorporates the meeting place of Dorchester Town Council and an arts and community venue, is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morpeth Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Morpeth, Northumberland, England

Morpeth Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Morpeth, Northumberland, England. The structure, which was the meeting place of Morpeth Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blandford Forum Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Blandford Forum, Dorset, England

Blandford Forum Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Blandford Forum, Dorset, England. The 18th-century structure, which was the meeting place of Blandford Forum Borough Council, is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helston Guildhall</span> Municipal building in Helston, Cornwall, England

Helston Guildhall, formerly Helston Town Hall, is a municipal building on Market Place, Helston, Cornwall, England. The structure, which is the meeting place of Helston Town Council, is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langport Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Langport, Somerset, England

Langport Town Hall is a municipal building in Bow Street in Langport, Somerset, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Langport Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeovil Town House</span> Municipal building in Yeovil, Somerset, England

The Town House is a municipal building in Union Street in Yeovil, Somerset, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Yeovil Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corn Exchange, Witney</span> Commercial building in Witney, Oxfordshire, England

The Corn Exchange is a commercial building in Market Street, Witney, Oxfordshire, England. The structure, which is used as a public events venue, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England

Sunderland Town hall was a municipal building in the Fawcett Street in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. It was the headquarters of Sunderland Borough Council until November 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southfields. Loughborough</span> Suburb and ward of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England

Southfields is a ward and suburb of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Historic England. "Town Hall, Market Place (1361164)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mayoralty in Charnwood, 2016". charnwood.gov.uk. Charnwood Borough Council. 2016. p. 16.
  3. ↑ "Timeline of Victorian Loughborough". Loughborough History and Heritage Network. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (1985). The Buildings of England: Leicestershire and Rutland. Pevsner Architectural Guides. p. 291. ISBN   978-0140710182.
  5. ↑ Lambert, Tim. "A Brief History of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England". localhistories.org. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Pickford, Chris, ed. (1995). Turret Clocks: Lists of Clocks from Makers' Catalogues and Publicity Materials (2nd ed.). Wadhurst, E. Sussex: Antiquarian Horological Society. p. 205.
  7. 1 2 "Ding Dong the clock is back". Loughborough Community Eye. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Loughborough Town Hall bell to ring again". Loughborough Echo. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Tales of Suffragettes and unruly crowds in Loughborough". Loughborough Echo. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "No. 38848". The London Gazette . 24 February 1950. p. 976.
  11. ↑ Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70. The Stationery Office Ltd. 1997. ISBN   0-10-547072-4.
  12. ↑ "New Year opening for prestigious new offices". Loughborough Echo. 4 January 1991. p. 55. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Council agenda, 4 September 2023". Charnwood Borough Council. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "The story of Loughborough's brave fire fighting force". Loughborough Echo. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee" (PDF). Borough of Charnwood. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "Loughborough Town Hall". G. F. Tomlinson. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Loughborough fire: Huge blaze at HSBC bank spreads to town hall". ITV News. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.