Yeovil Town House

Last updated

Yeovil Town House
The old cop shop (geograph 3533186).jpg
Yeovil Town House
LocationUnion Street, Yeovil
Coordinates 50°56′26″N2°37′53″W / 50.9406°N 2.6313°W / 50.9406; -2.6313
Built1849
Architectural style(s) Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameThe Old Police Station
Designated17 October 1983
Reference no.1173857
Somerset UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Somerset

The Town House is a municipal building in Union Street in Yeovil, Somerset, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Yeovil Town Council, is a Grade II listed building. [1]

History

The Town Hall (with the clock tower) c.1913 The Borough, Yeovil.jpg
The Town Hall (with the clock tower) c.1913
The Municipal Offices (on the right) King George Street - Yeovil - geograph.org.uk - 1097343.jpg
The Municipal Offices (on the right)

The first municipal building in Yeovil was the "Tolle Hall" in The Borough, which was used as a courthouse and a lock up for petty criminals and dated back at least to the early 17th century. [2]

By the early 19th century, the Tolle Hall had become dilapidated, and the town commissioners decided to commission a new building to be known as the "Town Hall": the site they selected in the High Street had been occupied by local businesses including an ironmonger and a sadler. The new building was designed by Thomas Stent in the neoclassical style, built by John Rawlings at a cost of £4,000 and was completed in 1849. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto High Street; it was rusticated and arcaded on the ground floor, with five tall sash windows with architraves and window sills flanked by brackets supporting cornices on the first floor. The windows were separated by large Ionic order columns supporting a frieze, an entablature and a cornice. [3] A local glove manufacturer, Thomas Dampier, donated a two-stage clock tower, with a belfry in the first stage, and clock faces in the second stage all surmounted by a dome and a weather vane, to commemorate the Coronation of George V and Mary in June 1911. [4] The building was destroyed by a major fire on 22 September 1935. Works of art lost in the fire included a painting of King William IV and a painting depicting troops in Yeovil Churchyard prior to the Battle of Babylon Hill in September 1642 during the English Civil War. [5]

The next building, the "Municipal Offices" in King George Street, was a structure which was originally commissioned to provide additional office space for Yeovil Borough Council. The structure was designed by a local firm of architects, Petter and Warren, in the Neo-Georgian style, built in ashlar stone and was officially opened by the mayor, Sidney Charles Clothier, on 7 June 1928. [6] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with nine bays facing onto King George Street; the central bay featured a doorway on the ground floor with an oculus on the first floor, while the other bays were fenestrated with sash windows on both floors. At roof level there was a wooden belfry with a dome. After the fire in the Town Hall, the Municipal Offices became the headquarters of the borough council in 1935, [7] but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Yeovil District Council was formed at council offices in Preston Road in 1974. [8] [9] [10] The building became a branch of Barclays in 1965. [11]

The current municipal building in Union Street was commissioned by the town commissioners as offices for the town surveyor and for the local police force and was always known as the "Town House". [12] The site they selected was part of the garden of a private house. [13] The building was designed in the neoclassical style, built in local stone with hamstone dressings and was completed in 1849. [14]

The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing onto Union Street; the central bay, which slightly projected forward and was pedimented, featured a pair of tall sash windows with architraves and window sills flanked by brackets supporting a cornice on the ground floor. There was a tall round headed window flanked by two slightly shorter round headed windows, all with architraves, on the first floor. The outer bays contained doorways flanked by brackets supporting cornices on the ground floor and sash windows with architraves and window sills on the first floor. [1]

The building was transferred to the management of the county constabulary in 1857 and remained in use as a police station until the police service moved to the new law courts in Petters Way in 1936. [15] It then served as the local headquarters of the Royal Air Force Association in the 1950s. [13] The newly formed Yeovil Town Council acquired the building in 1984 and a major programme of improvement works, which involved a pedimented Doric order porch and a stucco finish for the southern elevation, was completed in 1989. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowen Post Office</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Bowen Post Office is a heritage-listed post office at 46 Herbert Street, Bowen, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the Commonwealth Department of the Interior and constructed in 1936. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehaven Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

Whitehaven Town Hall is a municipal building in Duke Street in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England. The building, which was the headquarters of Whitehaven Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen's Hall, Hexham</span> Municipal building in Hexham, Northumberland, England

The Queen's Hall, formerly Hexham Town Hall, is a municipal structure in Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, England. The structure, which was the headquarters of Hexham Urban District Council and is now an arts centre, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltcoats Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Saltcoats, Scotland

Saltcoats Town Hall is a municipal building in Countess Street, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The building, which is used by North Ayrshire Council as hub for the delivery of local services, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaton Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Seaton, Devon, England

Seaton Town Hall was a municipal building in Fore Street, Seaton, Devon, England. The former Town Hall, which was the meeting place of Seaton Urban District Council, currently hosts The Gateway Theatre, providing live music, theatre, cultural and community events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garstang Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Garstang, Lancashire, England

Garstang Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Garstang, Lancashire, England. The structure, which currently accommodates two shops and a Royal British Legion Club, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashby-de-la-Zouch Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Town Hall is a municipal building in Market Street in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. The structure, which was used as the offices of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Urban District Council, is a Grade II listed building. The market hall, which is located behind the town hall, is separately listed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxteth Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Toxteth, Merseyside, England

Toxteth Town Hall, formerly known as Toxteth Park Public Offices, is a municipal building in High Park Street, Toxteth, Merseyside, England. The structure, which currently operates as a community centre, is a grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stokesley Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, England

Stokesley Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which accommodates the offices and meeting place of Stokesley Town Council, is a grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grove House, Dunstable</span> Municipal building in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England

Grove House, also known as Dunstable Municipal Offices, is a municipal building in High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. The building, which forms the offices and meeting place of Dunstable Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wark Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Wark on Tyne, Northumberland, England

Wark Town Hall is a municipal building on The Green in Wark on Tyne, Northumberland, England. The building, which is used as a community events venue, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beeston Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England

Beeston Town Hall is a municipal building in Foster Avenue in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England. The building was formerly the offices of Beeston and Stapleford Urban District Council and is now used by the Redeemer Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town Hall, Lisburn</span> Municipal Building in Lisburn, Northern Ireland

The Old Town Hall is a municipal structure in Castle Street, Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is used as a constituency office by the Democratic Unionist Party, is a Grade B2 listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ederney Town Hall</span> Municipal Building in Ederney, Northern Ireland

Ederney Town Hall, also styled as Ederney Townhall, is a municipal structure in Market Street, Ederney, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Grade B1 listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Buildings, Kinross</span> County building in Kinross, Scotland

County Buildings is a municipal structure in the High Street in Kinross, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The structure, which accommodates the local area offices for Perth and Kinross Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coldstream Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Coldstream, Scotland

Coldstream Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Coldstream, Scottish Borders, Scotland. The structure, which currently accommodates a library and a registration office, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Sheriff Court</span> Judicial building in Hamilton, Scotland

Hamilton Sheriff Court is a judicial building in Almada Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The building, which continues to serve as the local courthouse, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanark Sheriff Court</span> Judicial building in Lanark, Scotland

Lanark Sheriff Court is a judicial building in Hope Street, Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The building, which continues to serve as the local courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheetham Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Cheetham, Manchester, England

Cheetham Town Hall is a former municipal building in Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham, Manchester, England. The structure, which now operates as a restaurant, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dundalk Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Dundalk Town Hall, is a municipal building in Crowe Street, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. It currently accommodates the offices of Dundalk Town Council as well as An Táin Arts Centre.

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England. "The Old Police Station (1173857)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  2. "Tolle Hall". Yeovil History. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. "Town Hall". Yeovil History. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  4. Sweet, Jack William; Ansell, Robin (2015). Yeovil History Tour. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445654492.
  5. "The day that Yeovil's town hall was ripped apart by gas explosions". Somerset News. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  6. Osborn, Bob (2017). Yeovil in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing. p. 80. ISBN   978-1445674810.
  7. "No. 45231". The London Gazette . 13 November 1970. p. 12536.
  8. Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70. The Stationery Office Ltd. 1997. ISBN   0-10-547072-4.
  9. "No. 46391". The London Gazette . 1 November 1974. p. 10519.
  10. "Yeovil MB". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. "King George Street". Yeovil History. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  12. Vickery, Daniel (1856). A Sketch of the Town of Yeovil. Yeovil: Western Flying Post Steam Press. p. 48.
  13. 1 2 "The Town House". Yeovil History. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  14. Osborn 2017, p. 87.
  15. Osborn, Bob (2016). Yeovil From Old Photographs. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445665276.
  16. Date stone in the pediment on the western elevation of the building.