| Wells Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 Wells Town Hall | |
| Location | Wells, Somerset |
| Coordinates | 51°12′32″N2°38′42″W / 51.2089°N 2.6449°W |
| Built | 1779 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Town Hall |
| Designated | 12 November 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1383028 |
  Shown in Somerset | |
Wells Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Wells, Somerset, England. The building, which is the headquarters of Wells City Council, is a Grade II listed building. [1]
The first civic building in the market place, a market and assize hall, was completed in 1548. [2] It was paid for in part by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, William Knight, and in part from a legacy left by the former Dean of Wells, Richard Woleman. [2] After falling into a state of disrepair, it was rebuilt in 1663. [2] It was at Wells assizes that, in the aftermath of the Monmouth Rebellion, Judge Jeffreys held the Bloody Assizes on 23 September 1685. [3] [4]
After the justices complained that the old market house and assize hall was cold and uncomfortable, civic leaders decided to procure a new building: the site selected, which was to the south of the old market and assize hall, had been occupied by a Canonical House used by former archdeacons. [3] An Act "for building a new Assize or Town Hall and Market House, within the City or Borough of Wells, in the County of Somerset; and for regulating the Markets within the said City or Borough" was approved by Parliament in March 1779. [5]
The new building which was built by Edmund and William Lush of Salisbury in the neoclassical style and paid for by public subscription was completed in late 1779. [6] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with nine bays facing onto the Market Square; the central section of three bays, which projected forward and featured arcading on the ground floor with tall sash windows on the first floor and a pediment above, was added in 1907. [1] A French door and a balcony on the first floor and three oculi above were added in 1932. [1] Internally, the principal rooms were the courtroom in the east wing, which was used as the court of assizes and later converted into a council chamber, and the courtroom in the west wing, which was used the magistrates' court and, after refurbishment, referred to as the "old courtroom". [6]
The town hall served as the meeting place of Wells Municipal Borough Council for much of the 20th century [7] but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Mendip District Council was formed in 1974. [8] It then became the meeting place for Wells City Council, the local parish council for the area. [9] The court of assizes continued to be held in the building until October 1970. [1] The building also became an approved venue for marriages and civil partnerships in 1998 [10] and magistrates' court hearings continued to be held in the building until 2010. [6]
Works of art in the town hall include a portrait by Godfrey Kneller of King Charles II, [11] a portrait by Peter Lely of King James II (as Duke of York) [12] and a portrait by Anthony van Dyck of Bishop Robert Creighton, [13] as well as a more recent portrait by Arthur Hayward of Admiral Sir James Somerville. [14]