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Longton Town Hall
Longton Town Hall
pen drawing by Neville Malkin - December 1974

-click picture for more-

 


Listed Buildings in Stoke-on-Trent and area

Longton Town Hall


Area
Longton
Street
Times Square
Heritage No.
95 A
Grade
II
Date Listed
17 April 1986
Building: The Town Hall, Longton
Location: STOKE ON TRENT SJ94SW TIMES SQUARE, Longton
Description:  Town Hall. Original building of 1844 extended in 1863 to twice original size with a pedimented portico added to the centre of the main front.

Longton Town Hall
Longton Town Hall
In 1985  the local council wanted to demolish this building.
however after much public outcry it has
survived and now carries a grade 2 listing


"Town Hall, Times Square. Times Square was first laid out in 1789. The first town hall was built here in 1844. The present building is of 1863 by Burrill. Ashlar, of thirteen bays, classical in style. The centre has a three-bay porte-cochere and giant upper Ionic columns carrying a pediment. Pediments also over the angle bays. The less stressed parts have only blank windows on the min floor. The S extension is of 1912-13 by J. H. Beckett. The Market Hall is behind."

Pevsner: The Buildings of England


Town Hall. Original building of 1844 extended in 1863 to twice original size with a pedimented portico added to the centre of the main front by J.Burrill.

Further alterations in 1912-1913. Stone brick, with slate roof. Monumental Italianate facade to Times Square: 13 bays, an enriched bay at either end and central 3-bay feature (1-4-3-4-1). 2-storeyed with rusticated ground floor, ashlar first floor and high ashlar parapet.

Central single-storeyed porte-cochere of one bay. Balcony over retains balustrade pedestals with urns, but balusters now removed. 3-bay pedimented projection at rear of balcony with Ionic pilasters on pedestals framing arched openings with stone infill of 1912-1913 carved with bass-relief panels. 20th Century door to balcony in lower half of central opening. A shallow blank eared panel above each arch. Arcade to porte-cochere, the projecting quoins and first floor openings are rusticated with alternating plain and vermiculated blocks and voussoirs.

All arches have raised keystones carved with fish, fruit and flowers etc by F. Gladwin of Stoke. The 5 bays to the left of the portico survive from the building of 1844: entablature and storey band at a slightly lower level. Arcaded ground floor infilled with recessed 20th Century metal casements replacing barred windows or entries, except bay two which has carved panel of 1912-1913. First floor windows in bays 2-5 have logged architraves over dado with panelled aprons below each sill.

Above window in bay 4 from left the stone setting for a pediment may indicate the central axis of the 1844 facade. Ground floor of bay 1 enriched with paired Roman Doric rusticated pilasters on pedestals framing an arched opening with a raised console bracket keystone.

On first floor, paired Ionic pilasters on pilasters on pedestals framing pedimented window. Entablature brought forward over bay 1 with pediment above. Five bays to right ity of portico are symmetrical extensions of 1863. Similar 20th Century windows in bays 9-10, shop window in bay 11, entry to covered market in 12 and shop kiosk. All windows on first floor are infilled with carved masonry panels as in central feature.

The high panelled parapet on 1912-1913 replaces earlier low parapets on both sides on the centre. Similar detailing, but without the architraves to first floor windows . The west wall of plain brickwork without detail.

Internally: all detail of 1863 or 1912-1913. Imperial staircase leading to gallery at rear lined with green glazed tiles. Main hall occupies most of range with Corinthian pilasters above dado and coved ceiling.  


Central single-storeyed porte-cochere of one bay.
Central single-storeyed porte-cochere of one bay.
Balcony over retains balustrade pedestals with urns, but balusters now removed.

 


All arches have raised keystones carved with fish, fruit and flowers etc by F. Gladwin of Stoke.

 

photos: Steve Birks  Sept 2006


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