| Royston Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 Royston Town Hall | |
| Location | Melbourn Street, Royston |
| Coordinates | 52°02′54″N0°01′13″W / 52.0484°N 0.0202°W |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
  Shown in Hertfordshire | |
Royston Town Hall is a municipal building in Melbourn Street, Royston, Hertfordshire, England. The structure, which continues to be used as the meeting place of the local town council, is a locally listed building. [1]
The building was commissioned in the mid-19th century with financial support from Charles Yorke, 4th Earl of Hardwicke, whose seat was at Wimpole Hall, as a mechanics' institute for the town. The site he selected, on the north side of Melbourn Street, was occupied by the turnpike tollgate cottage for the road to Cambridge which had been established by the Hauxton and Dunsbridge Turnpike Trust in 1725. [2]
The building was designed in the neoclassical style, built in yellow brick and was completed in 1855. [3] The design involved a rectangular building with a tall main frontage facing onto Melbourn Street. It featured a segmental-headed doorway, with a hood mould and a keystone, on the ground floor and a round headed window, with an ashlar stone surround and a keystone, on the first floor. The keystone above the first-floor window bore a carved head intended to depict Hardwicke's face. The doorway and window were flanked by pairs of full-height pilasters supporting an open modillioned pediment with a date stone in the tympanum. Internally, the principal rooms were the lower hall (later known as the Heritage Hall) and the upper hall (later known as the Hardwicke Hall). [4]
Following the implementation of the Technical Instruction Act 1889, which required local authorities to promote and fund adult education, many mechanics' institutes were acquired by the local authorities to meet the new legal requirements. [5] The newly formed Royston Urban District Council held its first meeting in the building on 1 October 1897, [6] purchased the building for £600 in 1900, and subsequently renamed it Royston Town Hall. [7]
The building was also used for public meetings: in March 1910, the writer, Redcliffe N. Salaman, spoke in the hall during his unsuccessful attempt to secure a seat as a Liberal Party candidate for Hertfordshire County Council. [8] He went on to write the landmark book, The History and Social Influence of the Potato, which established the history of nutrients as a new literary genre. [9]
The building continued to serve as the headquarters of the urban district council for much of the 20th century but ceased to be the local seat of government when North Hertfordshire District Council was formed at Letchworth in 1974. [10] Royston Town Council, which was created as a successor parish council to the former urban district council, established its offices and meeting place in the building. [11]
A major programme of refurbishment works, which involved the creation of a community cinema, to be known as the "Royston Picture Palace", was completed in 2013. [12] [13] After the managers of the cinema, Saffron Screen, handed back the contract in May 2023, there was local concern that the cinema would close. [14] However, the town council subsequently confirmed that films would continue to be shown for the time being. [15]
Royston is a town and civil parish in the District of North Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England.
Baldock is a historic market town and unparished area in the local government district of North Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire, England, where the River Ivel rises. It lies 33 miles (53 km) north of London, 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Bedford, and 14 miles (23 km) north northwest of the county town of Hertford. Nearby towns include Royston to the northeast, Letchworth and Hitchin to the southwest and Stevenage to the south.
East Hertfordshire is one of ten local government districts in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire. The largest town in the district is Bishop's Stortford, and the other main towns are Ware, Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth. At the 2011 Census, the population of the district was 137,687. By area it is the largest of the ten local government districts in Hertfordshire. The district borders North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, and Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford in Essex.
North Hertfordshire is one of ten local government districts in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Letchworth. The district borders East Hertfordshire, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield, St Albans, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, and South Cambridgeshire.
Barley is a village and civil parish in the district of North Hertfordshire, England. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 659, increasing to 662 at the 2011 Census. The place-name refers to a lea or meadow and not to the grain-producing plant. Coincidentally to the southwest lies the village of Reed. The Prime Meridian passes to the west of Barley, which is located on the Royston to Saffron Walden road, as well as the medieval London to Cambridge road.
Whaddon is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Royston.
The Shire Hall is a municipal building in Fore Street, Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, England. The building, which currently serves as a Magistrates' Court, is a Grade I listed building.
Heanor Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Street, Heanor, Derbyshire, England. The town hall, which is the meeting place of Heanor and Loscoe Town Council, is a grade II listed building.
Worksop Town Hall is a municipal building in Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Worksop Urban District Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Hitchin Town Hall is a municipal structure in Brand Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Hitchin Urban District Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Letchworth Town Hall is a municipal building in Broadway, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Letchworth Urban District Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Elland Town Hall is a municipal building in Southgate, Elland, West Yorkshire, England. The structure, which was primarily used as an events venue, is a Grade II listed building.
Midsomer Norton Town Hall is a municipal structure at The Island, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England. The structure, which serves as the meeting place of Midsomer Norton Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Tring Market House is a municipal building in the High Street, Tring, Hertfordshire, England. The structure, which is the meeting place of Tring Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Baldock Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire, England. The structure, which now operates as an arts and heritage centre, is a locally listed building.
Crewkerne Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Square in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Crewkerne Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.