Trafford Town Hall

Trafford Town Hall, Stretford

Town Hall built in 1933 by the architectural firm Bradshaw Gass & Hope of Bolton, with the main contractor Edwin Marshall & Sons Ltd. A 1983 extension was added to the rear. The building is constructed of red Ruabon brick in Flemish bond on a steel frame, with gritstone dressings and a mansard roof with slate on the lower part and plastic above. It comprises two storeys plus an attic floor and basement, set in landscaped grounds with a sunken garden to the west.

The building has a main front with wings stretching back to each side. The 1983 extension joins the original at the rear of each wing, forming an irregular square courtyard.

A gritstone ashlar plinth, fluted at the top, rises throughout to the base of the ground floor windows, replaced by grey brick to the rear. Ground and first floor windows are wood-framed 9-over-9 vertical sashes with gritstone ashlar dressings. Attic floor windows have small panes forming a spider's web pattern which pivot from the centre. The attic floor is set back behind a brick parapet, pierced at regular intervals with groups of gritstone balusters rising from the main walls.

The south-east main front features a central three-bay projection with an entrance portico at the top of a flight of five steps. The portico has two columns and two detached flanking pillars supporting a balcony with wrought iron parapet featuring a circle motif, repeated on the corner pillars. Above is a small-paned stair window divided by two columns supporting a triangular pediment, topped with a semi-circular window. The first floor windows to each side of the entrance carry decorative panels above with flower and circle motifs. Above the first floor rises the square clock tower, ascending in stages with latticed windows, gritstone parapets, corner urns and a large blue and white exposed clock face on all four sides. The top stage is capped in gritstone with chamfered corners. Beyond the central section are seven windows to each side.

The two wings are similar, each with five windows to each side of a central bay breaking forward. On the right wing (facing Warwick Road), the central bay has an 8-over-8 pane ground floor window and French windows opening onto a balcony with wrought iron balustrade. On the left wing, the central ground floor 8-over-8 window pane is surmounted by a cornice with urns at the corners, and the first floor window carries an oval cartouche above the lintel. Both outer corners form an inverted bay with a deeply recessed door behind engaged columns, with French windows behind a balcony with wrought iron parapet, and a semi-circular overlight at first floor, with semi-circular brick arch above. Gritstone string courses run at first floor and attic floor level.

To the rear, the central projecting range has a double height stair window with stained glass, divided by a stone band at first floor level and flanked by columns and pillars. At attic balcony level is a large semi-circular window, above which the clock tower rises. To each side is a leaded first floor window, with a door to the left and window to the right at ground floor, and a basement window in the centre. Beyond are six windows to each side. On the inner face of the left return is a semi-circular domed apse with basement windows within the plinth, tall multi-paned windows at ground floor and smaller windows at first floor. Above are three oval windows with spider-web pattern panes.

Interior features include double-glazed entrance doors with architrave incorporating columns and urns, leading to a lobby with tiled floor bearing the Stretford coat of arms. Engaged Egyptian style columns to either side lead to the entrance hall from which spine corridors extend to both sides. To the rear is an Imperial staircase lit by a stained glass window carrying the coats of arms of Stretford Borough and the de Trafford family. The stair has a brass handrail. The entrance also contains memorials to the fallen of both World Wars and bronze statues titled 'Fortuna', 'Mercury', 'Niord' and 'Electra', the latter two built into the staircase. A wrought iron balustrade with motifs matching the external parapet overlooks the entrance hall from the first floor, and a fluted frieze runs round the stairwell punctuated with circular motifs. An original glass light fitting is installed in the entrance lobby.

The corridors have original patterned tiled floors with oval patterns at the corners and coffered ceilings. Rooms off both sides retain original doors and architraves in polished wood with Art Deco style glazing and decorative motifs. Staircases at the corners are open-well with quarter-pace landings, metal balusters and wooden handrails. The offices have coffered ceilings and some have been opened out, though all original doors remain.

The east range contains the apsidal Council Chamber, with wood veneer bench and desk seating arranged in semi-circles following the shape of the outer wall. Doors to the rear carry coats of arms on their pediments. A visitors' gallery runs round the outer edge on the floor above, lit by oval windows and accessed from the second floor. A domed ceiling light above with patterned glazing sits beneath the outer dome of the roof. On the first floor opposite are committee rooms forming a suite of linked spaces with wood panelled walls, original radiators with decorative wrought iron grilles, clocks and other decorative features. One men's toilet on the first floor retains original fittings, wall and floor tiles. The attic floor contains smaller offices and includes access via a spiral iron staircase to the clock tower, the workings of which are exposed within. The basement floor contains storage and a canteen.

The Town Hall was built for Stretford Borough Council following a government enquiry that determined the existing Public Hall offices would not provide sufficient accommodation. The National Exchequer provided £88,000 for the work. A painting of the proposed building shows some adaptations, mainly in the setting of the tower and the form of the attic floor, which was originally conceived as a series of dormer windows. Otherwise the original building appears unchanged from its original conception.

The reorganisation of local government in 1974 saw the demise of Stretford and the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, after which the Town Hall was renamed accordingly. It houses the civic, rather than public, offices of the borough. A new extension was added in 1983 to the rear, joined at the ends of the two wings to the original building and forming a courtyard.

The firm Bradshaw, Gass and Hope were specialists in designing municipal buildings. They were also responsible for Wimbledon Town Hall (1928-31), Luton Town Hall (1935-6), Bromley Town Hall (1938) and the former Royal Exchange, Manchester (1914-21).