Town Hall

Town Hall

Built 1906-8 at a cost of £23,000, this classical town hall stands prominently in Ossett market place. It is constructed from coursed, pitch-faced stone with ashlar dressings and details, with a Welsh slate roof.

The front elevation is arranged symmetrically across two storeys, with a rhythm of 3+2+2+2+3 bays (designated A, B, C, B, A). Bays A and C break forward slightly. The centrepiece features a central round-arched portal with a recessed door and Art Nouveau iron gates. The arch is flanked by caryatids supporting foliated brackets which, together with the arch keystone, carry a small first-floor balcony. The caryatid bases are inscribed with the foundation date 1906 and opening date 1908. The arch spandrels are elaborately carved with cartouches bearing the date 1907.

Bays A are framed by rusticated pilaster buttresses at ground level, becoming paired Ionic pilasters at first-floor level. Bay C is similarly framed by Ionic pilasters at first-floor level. The ground floor contains ten square-headed windows with rusticated surrounds. The first floor has twelve round-arched windows with ornamental spandrels, framed and separated by Ionic pilasters, with moulded sill bands. Between floors runs a moulded cornice and decorated frieze; moulded eaves cornice frames the roof.

Surmounting bay C is a round gable with octagonal flanking buttresses and a central tapering finial. The gable contains a central roundel with relief carvings depicting local industries—a hanging ram, wheatsheaf, mill, and coal mine—together with the inscription "INUTILE UTILE EX ARTE". Bays A are each surmounted by similar but larger gables, each containing a central oculus supported by relief carvings of fire-breathing, crouching dragons with a grotesque mask below.

A central clock tower in two stages rises above the main roof, surmounted by an octagonal cupola with a domed lead roof. The first stage has paired round-arched openings; the second stage carries a clock face to each side with a cornice swept over. Ornamental ashlar chimneys are symmetrically placed.

The left return comprises 7 bays and the right return 5 bays, similarly treated but plainer. At the rear, a contemporary public hall addition is treated more plainly with its gable front to the left return. The public hall presents a three-storey symmetrical front of 5 bays in an A-B-A arrangement, framed and separated by ashlar strips. The central 3 bays break forward and are pedimented, with a cartouche bearing the date 1907 supported by foliage in the tympanum. A central portico with colonnettes supports a pediment inscribed "PUBLIC HALL" in raised letters. Six high-level round-arched windows open to the left return (rear of building).

Interior features include a mosaic entrance hall and tiled hallway with glazed tile dado and stucco garland decoration to the frieze. The main stair features Art Nouveau ironwork and is lit by a stained-glass window dated 1907. The council chamber, now used as offices, retains a panelled ceiling and stucco decoration. The public hall interior contains an unsupported horseshoe gallery with stucco decoration to its front in the form of cartouches with rinceau support. An ornamental frieze and panelled ceiling remain, with a panelled wooden dado. A late 20th-century proscenium has been added. The hall was designed to seat 800 people.

The excellent standard of ashlar work throughout is particularly noteworthy. The building occupies an important town centre site.