Lowestoft Town Hall

Last updated

Lowestoft Town Hall
Town Hall, Lowestoft - geograph.org.uk - 1091653.jpg
Lowestoft Town Hall
LocationHigh Street, Lowestoft
Coordinates 52°29′00″N1°45′21″E / 52.4832°N 1.7558°E / 52.4832; 1.7558 Coordinates: 52°29′00″N1°45′21″E / 52.4832°N 1.7558°E / 52.4832; 1.7558
Built1860
Architect John Louth Clemence
Architectural style(s) Italianate style
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameTown Hall
Designated21 June 1993
Reference no.1279943
Suffolk UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Suffolk

Lowestoft Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. The town hall, which was the meeting place of Lowestoft Council, is a Grade II listed building. [1]

History

The first town hall in the town, which incorporated a chapel for use by parishioners unable to travel to St Margaret's Church, was completed in Market Street 1570. [2] It was substantially rebuilt in 1698 with a corn cross (which indicated the area where markets could be held) on the ground floor, an assembly room on the first floor and a domed ceiling above. [2] It was modified further when the northern part of the ground floor was converted for use as a vestry in 1768. [2] After St Peter's Church was completed in 1832, [3] the building was solely used for non-ecclesiastical purposes. [2]

The current building was designed by John Louth Clemence, built by John Newson and was officially opened on 6 March 1860. [1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the High Street; the central section originally featured a porch on the ground floor with a pair of round headed windows on the first floor and a clock tower above. [1] The town clock contained a curfew bell which was cast at John Brand's bell foundry in Norwich for the first own hall in 1644 and was rung each evening at 8 p.m. [2] [4] Internally, the principal rooms were the council chamber and chairman's room on the first floor. [1]

Three stained glass windows, designed by John Thomas and manufactured by James Ballantine of Edinburgh, were installed in the council chamber as a gift from Sir Morton Peto; the largest of the three windows commemorated the Anglo-French alliance against Russia during the Crimean War, while the smaller windows depicted Peto's links to the town. [2]

The building was modified to the designs of William Oldham Chambers in 1872, when the porch was removed so allowing the High Street to be widened. [1] Further reconstruction took place in 1899 when the High Street elevation was re-designed with a new doorway flanked by Corinthian order columns supporting an entablature inscribed with the words "Town Hall". [1] The building was extended to the west along Compass Street in 1905, to the north along the High Street in 1912 and to the west along Mariners Street in 1935. [1]

The town hall was the headquarters of Lowestoft Borough Council for much of the 20th century and continued to serve as the local seat of government when the enlarged Waveney District Council was formed in 1974. [5] Memorials were established in the town hall to commemorate the lives of two local people who were awarded the Victoria Cross. [2] These were Claud Castleton, who earned his award after being killed trying to save the lives of three other soldiers during the Battle of Pozières in July 1916 [6] and Thomas Crisp, who earned his award after being killed during the defence of his vessel, the armed naval smack Nelson, in the North Sea against an attack from a German submarine in August 1917. [7]

The building became vacant and the windows were boarded up after Waveney District Council moved out of the building to share offices with Suffolk County Council at Riverside Road in 2015. [8] Following a report by Colliers International issued in October 2019 setting out options for building, [9] English Heritage recommended in March 2020 that a creative industries hub be established on the site [10] and, in July 2020, Lowestoft Town Council secure a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund to develop a business plan for such a development. [11]

Related Research Articles

Beccles Human settlement in England

Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as 109 miles (175 km) from London via the A145 and A12 roads, 98 miles (158 km) north-east of London as the crow flies, 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Norwich and 33 miles (53 km) north-northeast of the county town of Ipswich. Nearby towns include Lowestoft to the east and Great Yarmouth to the north-east. The town lies on the River Waveney on the edge of The Broads National Park.

Lowestoft Town and civil parish in Suffolk, England

Lowestoft is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. As the most easterly UK settlement, it is 110 miles (177 km) north-east of London, 38 miles (61 km) north-east of Ipswich and 22 miles (35 km) south-east of Norwich, and the main town in its district. The estimated population in the built-up area exceeds 70,000. Its development grew with the fishing industry and as a seaside resort with wide sandy beaches. As fishing declined, oil and gas exploitation in the North Sea in the 1960s took over. While these too have declined, Lowestoft is becoming a regional centre of the renewable energy industry.

Somerleyton Human settlement in England

Somerleyton is a village and former civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-west of Lowestoft and 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south-west of Great Yarmouth in the East Suffolk district. The village is closely associated with Somerleyton Hall and was largely rebuilt as a model village in the 19th-century at the direction of Samuel Morton Peto. The parish was combined with Herringfleet and Ashby to create the parish of Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet in 1987.

Herringfleet Human settlement in England

Herringfleet is a place and former civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is located 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north-west of Lowestoft in the East Suffolk district. The parish was combined with Somerleyton and Ashby to create the parish of Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet in 1987.

Reydon Human settlement in England

Reydon is a village and civil parish, 1.0 mile (1.6 km) north-west of Southwold and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-east of Wangford, in the East Suffolk district and the ceremonial county of Suffolk, England. Its population of 2,567 in 2001 including Easton Bavents eased up to 2,582 at the 2011 Census, and was estimated at 2,772 in 2018. The name probably means Rye Hill, Rey meaning rye and -don being an old word for hill or rise). The village is close to the cliffs at Easton Bavents, a village now much eroded. Both were established before neighbouring Southwold. The parish church is St Margaret of Antioch. The parish of Easton Bavents was merged with Reydon in 1987, when part of Southwold was also transferred.

Carlton Colville Human settlement in England

Carlton Colville is a civil parish and suburb of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. It is 3 miles (5 km) south-west of the centre of the town, in the East Suffolk district. The area lies along the A146 Lowestoft to Beccles road.

Wrentham, Suffolk Rural village in Suffolk, England

Wrentham is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk district, in the north-east of the English county of Suffolk. It is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the North Sea coast on the A12 trunk road, about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Lowestoft, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Southwold and 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of Beccles.

Campsea Ashe Human settlement in England

Campsea Ashe is a village in Suffolk, England located approximately 5 miles (8 km) north east of Woodbridge and 6 miles (10 km) south west of Saxmundham.

Blundeston Human settlement in England

Blundeston is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-west of Lowestoft, 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Great Yarmouth and around 1.75 miles (2.82 km) inland from the North Sea coast. It is part of the area known as Lothingland in the East Suffolk district. Blundeston Prison was located on the southern edge of the village but closed in early 2014.

Kirkley Human settlement in England

Kirkley is a district within the town of Lowestoft in the East Suffolk district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located south of the centre of Lowestoft and the town's harbour and Lake Lothing. Kirkley was originally an independent village but is now part of the urban conurbation of Lowestoft. In 1901 the parish had a population of 6465.

Lound, Suffolk Human settlement in England

Lound is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of Lowestoft, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Great Yarmouth in the East Suffolk district. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) from the North Sea coast at Hopton-on-Sea and is on the border with the county of Norfolk.

North Cove Human settlement in England

North Cove is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is part of the East Suffolk district, located around 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Beccles and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Lowestoft. It merges with the village of Barnby and the villages share some resources, although the two parishes retain separate parish councils.

Leigh Town Hall Municipal building in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England

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.

Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet Human settlement in England

Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet is a civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 5 miles (8.0 km) north-west of Lowestoft and the same distance south-west of Great Yarmouth and is in the East Suffolk district. The parish is made up of the villages of Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet and at the 2011 United Kingdom census had a population of 427.

J. L. Clemence

John Louth Clemence was an English architect, active in Suffolk, particularly Lowestoft.

Croydon Town Hall Municipal building in London, England

Croydon Town Hall is a council building in Katherine Street, Croydon which serves as headquarters for Croydon London Borough Council. It is a Grade II listed building.

Oulton, Suffolk Human settlement in England

Oulton is a civil parish on the western edge of the town of Lowestoft in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is in the East Suffolk district. The eastern part of the parish forms part of the suburbs of Lowestoft, whilst the western section extends into The Broads national park, reaching the River Waveney and Oulton Dyke.

Folkestone Town Hall Municipal building in Folkestone, Kent, England

Folkestone Town Hall, also known as The Guildhall, is a municipal building in Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Folkestone Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.

Beccles Town Hall Municipal building in Beccles, Suffolk, England

Beccles Town Hall is a municipal structure in New Market, Beccles, Suffolk, England. The structure, which accommodates the offices and meeting place of Beccles Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.

Old Town Hall, Wrentham Municipal building in Wrentham, Suffolk, England

The Old Town Hall is a former municipal building in the High Street in Wrentham, Suffolk, England. The building, which was the meeting place of Wrentham Parish Council, is a Grade II listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Historic England. "Town Hall (1279943)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Welcome to Lowestoft Town Hall". Waveney Council. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "St Peter's Church, Lowestoft". Suffolk Churches. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "History of bell ringing at Campsea Ashe". Campsea Ashe Church. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70. The Stationery Office Ltd. 1997. ISBN   0-10-547072-4.
  6. ↑ "No. 29765". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 1915. p. 9418.
  7. ↑ "No. 31021". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 November 1918. p. 13695.
  8. ↑ "The Future of Lowestoft Town Hall". Waveney District Council. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Options for Lowestoft Town Hall". Historic England. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Historic town hall could get £3.5m makeover". Eastern Daily Press. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Historic town hall set for new lease of life". Eastern Daily Press. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
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.