Chorley Town Hall Explained

Chorley Town Hall
Coordinates:53.654°N -2.6332°W
Location:Chorley
Built:1879
Architect:John Ladds and William Henry Powell

Chorley Town Hall is a municipal building in Market Street in Chorley, Lancashire, England.

History

The first town hall, which was commissioned by a local mercer and philanthropist, John Hollinshead of Hollinshead Hall, was built on the east side of Market Street and completed in 1802.[1] [2] It accommodated the local public offices as well as the local lock-up.[1] After the first town hall became too cramped, civic leaders decided to procure a new town hall: the site they selected on the west side of Market Street had been occupied by the Gillibrand Arms Public House.[3] [4]

The new building, which was designed in the Italianate style by John Ladds and William Henry Powell, was completed in 1879.[5] [6] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Market Street with the end bays slightly projected forward; the central section, which also slightly projected forward, featured a doorway on the ground floor with brackets supporting a pediment containing a carved tympanum with a tall clock tower above (the clock and bells were by Gillett, Bland & Co.); there were sash windows on the first and second floors. The principal rooms were a large assembly hall, which later became known as the Lancastrian Room, the council chamber and town clerk's office.[7]

The town hall became the headquarters of the new Municipal Borough of Chorley in 1881.[1] In the early years the basement was used for a butter market and, in the early 20th century, the assembly room was used as a cinema.[8] Meanwhile the old town hall was demolished in the 1930s.[9] The building remained the local seat of government when the enlarged Borough of Chorley was formed in 1974.[10] In the 1980s, a control centre was established in the basement for the protection of civic leaders in the event of a nuclear attack.[9] Although most council officers and their departments relocated to the Civic Offices in Union Street in the late 20th century, council meetings continued to be held in the town hall.[11]

An extensive programme of refurbishment works at the town hall was completed in 2005.[12] The works, which were designed by Seed Architects, involved re-instatement of the main entrance under the clock tower and the creation of a glass-roofed atrium with glass passenger lifts to facilitate easy movement of customers within the building.[13] After several incidents involving damage to facilities and abuse of staff, the Lancastrian Room ceased to be available for private hire in 2009.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Chorley', in A History of the County of Lancaster. 6. William . Farrer. J.. Brownbill . London. 1911. 129–149. British History Online. 28 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Significant dates in Chorley's Past. Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society. 28 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Ordnance Survey Map. 1848. 28 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Census Data. 1841. 28 November 2020.
  5. Web site: 1875 – Town Hall, Chorley, Lancashire. Archiseek. 28 November 2020.
  6. Web site: Chorley, Lancashire. The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England & Wales, 1894-5. 28 November 2020.
  7. Web site: Kelly's Directory of Lancashire . 1905. 28 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Chorley Town Hall. Cinema Treasures. 28 November 2020.
  9. Web site: National Heritage Open Days co-ordinated by the Civic Trust: conducted tour of Chorley Town Hall. Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society. 28 November 2020.
  10. Book: Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70. The Stationery Office Ltd. 0-10-547072-4. 1997.
  11. Web site: Full Council Meeting. 17 September 2019. Chorley Council. 28 November 2020.
  12. Web site: Post reviews its FoI blitz. 4 August 2005. Press and Gazette. 28 November 2020.
  13. Web site: Chorley Town Hall. Seed Architects. 28 November 2020.
  14. Web site: Birthday bashes banned after havoc at Chorley Town Hall. 14 January 2009. Lancashire Telegraph. 28 November 2020.