| Old Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 The building in 2014 | |
| Location | New Street, Paignton |
| Coordinates | 50°26′05″N3°34′07″W / 50.4347°N 3.5687°W |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | John Tarring |
| Architectural style(s) | Italianate style |
  Shown in Devon | |
The Old Town Hall is a former municipal building in New Street in Paignton, a town in Devon, in England. It served as the offices of Paignton Urban District Council until 1946, but was later converted for residential use.
Following significant population growth, largely associated with its status as a seaside resort, a local board was formed in Paignton in 1863. [1] In 1867, the local decided to commission a building to serve as a public office, police station, sessions house and assembly room. [2] The site selected was on the north side of New Street. The new building was designed by John Tarring in the Italianate style, [2] built in stone and was completed in 1870. [3] As well as being the location for weekly petty session hearings, [4] the town hall also served as the meeting place for the local masonic lodge. [5]
After the local board was succeeded by Paignton Urban District Council in 1894, [6] the town hall became the offices and meeting place of the new council. [7] During the Second World War, it operated as the local sub-station for the purposes of controlling air raid precautions against German bombing. [8] The town hall continued to serve as the council headquarters for over half a century, [9] but ceased to be the local seat of government when the council relocated to Oldway Mansion in 1946. [10] [11] [12]
As well as being used for municipal purposes it also served as a public events venue: the rock band, the Gods, performed there in November 1967. [13] The town hall was kept in public ownership, serving as the local register office and being used for the provision of local services, including council rent and rates collection, by the urban district council until 1968, and then by Torbay Council thereafter. It remained in public ownership until 2008, when it was deemed surplus to requirements, and sold to a developer for conversion into housing. [14]
The building is constructed of grey limestone and red sandstone, with yellow sandstone dressings. The left-hand section of three bays is slightly projected forward from the right-hand section of two bays. The left-hand section, which is also taller than the right-hand section, is fenestrated with segmental-headed windows with multi-coloured sandstone voussoirs on the ground floor, and with round-headed windows with voussoirs on the first floor. The first bay in the right-hand section contains a doorway on the ground floor and a narrow casement window with an architrave on the first floor, while the second bay is fenestrated by a segmental headed casement window with voussoirs on the ground floor and by a square headed casement window with an architrave on the first floor. An attic storey lit by Velux windows has been inserted to create extra space. Internally, the principal room is the former council chamber on the ground floor, behind the segmental-headed windows. Torbay Council has described the building as being part of an "eccentric terrace". [15]
Paignton is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1968. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton has origins as a Celtic settlement and was first mentioned in 1086. It grew as a small fishing village and a new harbour was built in 1847. A railway line was opened to passengers in 1859 creating links to Torquay and London. As its population increased, it merged with the villages of Goodrington and Preston. Paignton is around 25 miles (40 km) north east of Plymouth and 20 miles (32 km) south of Exeter.
Oldway Mansion is a large house and gardens in Paignton, Devon, England. It was built as a private residence for Isaac Singer (1811–1875), and rebuilt by his son Paris Singer, in the style of the Palace of Versailles.
Preston is a suburb located in the northern part of Paignton in Devon. Preston is a popular destination for family holidays and has two main beaches; Hollicombe, a red sandy beach with cliffs and rock pools, and Preston Sands with rock pools, beach huts and facilities. At low tide it is possible to walk between Preston Sands and the adjoining beaches at Paignton. The ward population at the 2011 census was 10,924.
Torbay Council is the local authority for Torbay, a unitary authority with borough status in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. The council is based in Torquay.
George Soudon Bridgman was an architect and civil engineer, active in the late 19th century in Torquay, Devon and the local area. He is best known for his work in the seaside resort of Paignton, designing Oldway Mansion and Paignton Pier within that town, as well as designing the sea wall and promenade at Paignton Beach. He was part of several other local projects and was considered as being so significant to the development of the town, that he became known as 'the Father of Paignton'.
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