West Bromwich Town Hall

Last updated

West Bromwich Town Hall
West-bromwich-town-hall.jpg
West Bromwich Town Hall
West Midlands UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within the West Midlands
General information
Architectural styleItalian Gothic style
Classification
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated29 September 1987
Reference no. 1077117
Location West Bromwich, West Midlands
CountryEngland
Coordinates 52°31′14.16″N1°59′53.15″W / 52.5206000°N 1.9980972°W / 52.5206000; -1.9980972
Construction started1874
Completed1875
Design and construction
Architecture firmAlexander & Henman
Main contractorTrow & Sons of Wednesbury

West Bromwich Town Hall is a municipal building in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England. It is a Grade II listed building. [1]

Contents

History

The town hall was commissioned at the instigation of the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners, chaired by Reuben Farley. [2] [3] The site selected, known as the Lodge Estate, located on West Bromwich Heath, was purchased from the descendants of William Izon, a local iron-founder. [4] The building, which was designed by Alexander & Henman of Stockton-on-Tees in the Italian Gothic style, was built in brick and stone by Trow & Sons of Wednesbury between 1874 and 1875. [4] The existing reading room was converted into an enlarged council chamber in 1924 and the building was extended to create a new reading room at that time. [5]

The American singer and pianist, Jerry Lee Lewis, performed in the town hall in 1964 [6] and, more recently, the People's Orchestra have given regular performances. [7]

The town hall was the headquarters of the county borough of West Bromwich and initially remained the local seat of government after Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was formed in 1974. [8] [9] However, the council moved to a modern facility, known as Sandwell Council House, in Freeth Street in Oldbury in 1989. [10]

Description

The arches at the entrance of the building are decorated with carved heads representing the months of the year, while the corridor encircling the main hall is tiled with paving by Maw & Company of Coalbrookdale. [2] The ceilings, the iron work, the walls and pillars have been decorated from designs by the architects and the "harmonious blending of colours, and the magnificent stencil work costing many days of artistic and patient labour, cannot be too highly praised and words can hardly express the charming effect they have produced." [11] The main tower is 130 feet (40 m) high. [2] The fine carvings are by the local sculptor, John Roddis, and depict the labours of the 12 months of the year. [12] [13]

Grand Organ

The Grand Organ in the main hall was a gift from Alexander Brogden, MP for Wednesbury, in 1878. It was built by Forster and Andrews of Hull following the International Exhibition of 1862 and is one of twelve organs built for town halls up and down the country by the firm. In May 1997 the organ was awarded a certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) as it was considered to be of historic importance for its musical and technical qualities. It was recorded as historic in the National Pipe Organ Register at Cambridge University. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. [14]

Related Research Articles

West Midlands (county) County in England

The West Midlands sometimes referred to as the "West Midlands County" is a metropolitan county in the West Midlands Region, England with a 2020 estimated population of 2,939,927, making it the second most populous county in England after Greater London. It appeared as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, to cover parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The county is a NUTS 2 region within the wider NUTS 1 region of the same name. It embraces seven metropolitan boroughs: the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, and the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. The county is also a combined authority which is over seen by the West Midlands Combined Authority which covers all seven boroughs and other non-constituent councils on economy, transport and housing.

West Bromwich Town in England

West Bromwich is a market town in the borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north-west of Birmingham. West Bromwich is part of the area known as the Black Country, in terms of geography, culture and dialect. West Bromwich had a population of 77,997 in 2011 Census.

Tipton Human settlement in England

Tipton is an industrial town in the West Midlands in England with a population of around 38,777 at the 2011 UK Census. It is located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Birmingham.

Wednesbury Town in West Midlands, England

Wednesbury is a market town in Sandwell in the county of West Midlands, England. It is located near the source of the River Tame. Historically part of Staffordshire in the Hundred of Offlow, at the 2011 Census the town had a population of 37,817.

Sandwell Metropolitan borough in England

Sandwell is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands county in England. The borough is named after the Sandwell Priory, and spans a densely populated part of the West Midlands conurbation. According to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, the borough comprises the six amalgamated towns of Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury, and West Bromwich, although these places consist of numerous smaller settlements and localities. Sandwell's Strategic Town Centre is designated as West Bromwich, the largest town in the borough, while Sandwell Council House is situated in Oldbury. In 2019 Sandwell was ranked 12th most deprived of England's 317 boroughs.

Oldbury, West Midlands Human settlement in England

Oldbury is a market town and administrative centre in Sandwell, West Midlands, England. It is the administrative centre of the borough of Sandwell.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974 to administer the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands county of England.

Darlaston Town in West Midlands, England

Darlaston is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands of England. It is located near Wednesbury and Willenhall.

The West Midlands region straddles the historic borders between the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire in the north, and Worcestershire in the south.

West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974 onwards

West Bromwich East is a constituency that is represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Nicola Richards of the Conservative Party, who was first elected at the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

West Bromwich West (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1974 onwards

West Bromwich West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Shaun Bailey, a member of the Conservative Party.

Great Bridge is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell. It is situated in Tipton, near the border of West Bromwich, and it is within the metropolitan county of the West Midlands.

The Phoenix Collegiate is a foundation secondary school and sixth form located in the Hateley Heath area of West Bromwich, a town in the West Midlands of England. The school was formed in September 2010 from the merger of Menzies High School and Manor High School, both located in the metropolitan borough of Sandwell. Originally operating from both former school sites, the Phoenix Collegiate has been based entirely at the former Menzies High School site in Clarke's Lane, West Bromwich. This follows the closure of the former Manor High School buildings on the Friar Park estate in Wednesbury due to asbestos.

Reuben Farley was an English businessman, politician and philanthropist. He was the first Mayor of West Bromwich and served for four terms. He was also the first freeman of West Bromwich and the town's Farley Clock Tower stands in his honour.

The 1999 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.

The 2000 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.

Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School Academy in Wednesbury, West Midlands, England

Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School is a co-educational Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form, located in Wednesbury in the West Midlands of England. The school opened in the 1960s and is named after 19th century Catholic cleric Stuart Bathurst, and is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham.

The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership is a Local Enterprise Partnership which seeks to help with economic growth and future plans around the Black Country in the West Midlands County, England. The partnership is shared around the Dudley Metropolitan Borough, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, Walsall Metropolitan Borough and the city of Wolverhampton. These are also part of the West Midlands Conurbation, along with Birmingham and Solihull, as well as Coventry, although this is not part of the conurbation but rather the county. The partnership is also the only partnership to adopt the historic Black Country name as the country is only recognized by the Black Country Flag and its history in industrial.

Wednesbury Town Hall Municipal building in Wednesbury, West Midlands, England

Wednesbury Town Hall is a municipal building in Holyhead Road in Wednesbury, West Midlands, England. The structure, which was the meeting place of Wednesbury Borough Council, now operates as an events venue.

References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Town Hall, Sandwell (1077117)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "West Bromwich Town Hall". West Bromwich History. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Reuben Farley". West Bromwich History. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Baggs, A P; Baugh, G C; Johnston, D A (1976). "'West Bromwich: Other estates', in A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 17, Offlow Hundred (Part)". London: British History Online. pp. 20–27. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "West Bromwich Town Hall Complex Planning and Development Brief". Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. 1 November 2005. p. 32. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Are you one of the audience members pictured with Jerry Lee Lewis at West Bromwich Town Hall in 1964?". Birmingham Mail. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "War to break out at West Bromwich Town Hall with The People's Orchestra". Birmingham Live. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "No. 49805". The London Gazette . 13 July 1984. p. 9666.
  10. ↑ "Honest Buildings". Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ West Bromwich Weekly News, August 1875
  12. ↑ "West Bromwich Town Hall and the birth of the town's coat of arms". Business Live. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  13. ↑ Noszlopy, George Thomas; Waterhouse, Fiona (2005). Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country. Liverpool University Press. p. 184. ISBN   978-0853239895.
  14. ↑ "NPOR [N04938]". National Pipe Organ Register . British Institute of Organ Studies . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
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.