Town Hall

Town Hall, Oldham

A town hall incorporating courts and civic offices, built in 1841 and extended in 1879–80. The building was designed by George Woodhouse of Bolton and Edward Potts of Oldham.

The main block faces Yorkshire Street and is constructed of ashlar with rustication to the ground floor and a slate roof. The design follows an austere Greek Revival style. The frontage comprises 2 storeys arranged in 7 bays, with an advanced Ionic portico spanning the central 3 bays. The city arms are displayed in the pediment above. The central entrance consists of a pair of panelled doors with an overlight set within an architrave with entablature carried on console brackets. The outer bays are articulated by shallow pilasters, each containing a 2-pane sash window. The return elevations are of brick with stone dressings and connect to the later extensions.

The Greaves Street elevation is of sandstone ashlar with rustication to the ground floor and vermiculation to a massive basement plinth. This section rises to 2½ storeys with an attic storey and comprises 5 bays, with 3 windows in the outer and central bays. A central entrance is recessed within a concave architrave and features a Gibbs surround with a massive keystone. Windows positioned above the doorway within the recess are spanned by a high arch. A tripartite leaded window with a cast-iron balconette lights the first floor, while a round-arched leaded window serves the second floor. The advanced outer bays have coupled Ionic piers to the first floor, carrying a heavy cornice on each side of the high central arch. Between these piers are concave full-height architraves divided by a band of stone displaying coats of arms in high relief. The attic storey features square windows in moulded architraves above the outer bays, and a raised central blocking course with incised panels. A Greek key frieze runs above the attic storey.

A return elevation of 3 bays includes a doorway with a high arch over a central window and doorways on the upper side. A long wing of white glazed brick to the west comprises the original courts and police accommodation; ventilation towers from cells remain visible in the roof. The return elevation to Greaves Street consists of a series of blocks employing a free monumental classical style. To the rear of the Firth Street block, a 4-bay section is articulated by engaged Ionic pilasters over the ground floor, with a heavy modillion cornice below the attic storey. An advanced block beyond is divided above the ground floor into 3 bays articulated by pilasters, with the wider central bay blind. An attic storey sits above the cornice. Further blocks comprise 2 sections of 3 bays each, articulated by Corinthian pilasters over high basements and featuring balustraded parapets.

The interior of the original building contains a central corridor running its length, with a staircase towards the rear. The corridor provides access to the main stair hall of the additional block, which features a stained glass window with figures representing industry, science, and related themes. The original building was intended to house magistrates and committee rooms, a public meeting room and concert room, and the borough surveyor's offices. The 1880 wing contained police and courts accommodation alongside a council chamber, mayor's parlour, and committee rooms.