Town Hall

The Town Hall, now a Market Hall, was constructed in 1854 by Thomas Fradgley of Uttoxeter. It is built of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with painted ashlar sandstone dressings, and has a Welsh slate roof. The building is of symmetrical design, with a five-bay front; the end bays project and are topped with pediments. A large assembly hall is located at the rear. The architecture is in a Classical style, featuring a tall plinth and channel-rusticated quoin strips. The windows are 4-pane sashes set in segmentally-arched ashlar surrounds, each with transoms and overlights. A central stone porch has square columns and an openwork metal balustrade, with steps leading to the doorway, which is flanked by side lights and double doors. A vehicle entrance with a segmental arch and keystone is located in the right-hand end bay. The first floor features a band and cornice. The tripartite window above the porch is flanked by windows without transoms. The entablature of the end pediments extends around the eaves, and stacks, mostly truncated, are visible. At the rear, a tripartite sash window is located above the vehicle entrance, with a pediment above it. The assembly hall has brick pilasters, a brick entablature, and pedimented gables with louvred lunettes, along with end stacks. The west side is lit by three margin-glazed sashes, set in raised brick surrounds with aprons and segmental arches. Inside, the entrance lobby has doors and a screen with diagonal glazing bars, along with swirled acanthus ceiling roses. A doorway to the assembly hall has three wreaths on its frieze. The main staircase has quarter landings, a decorative cast-iron balustrade with continuous mahogany handrail (wreathed at the foot), and octagonal lanterns to the stairwell and landing. The assembly hall has doorways with eared architraves, a gallery supported by two cast-iron columns (continuing at a higher level along two-thirds of each side), an elaborate scrolled cast-iron balustrade with anthemion motifs, and a wooden handrail. The ceiling has a coved edge and three large ventilated roses. Initially designed to accommodate a Savings Bank, Police Office, Council Chamber, and a library for the Literary Institute, as well as a hall for dancing and meetings.