Town Hall

The Town Hall, originally a butter market, was initially built in 1701 and extended in 1811, with the extension being rebuilt in 1845. It was commissioned for Sir Thomas Guy. The building is constructed of chequer brick with ashlar dressings, and has a hipped tile roof with brick lateral stacks. It is a 2-storey rectangular structure with an arcaded ground floor and a 2-storey extension to the rear.

The ground floor features a 2-bay arcade supported by Doric columns, with archivolts and keystones, a string course above, and a modillioned cornice and pediment at first floor. Two round-arched windows with keystones over small-paned glazing are flanked by an architraved plaque displaying an inscription recording the building's erection, and Sir T. Guy’s coat of arms to the apron. An oval cartouche bearing the town arms sits above. The roof incorporates a hexagonal louvre with a modillioned cornice and an ogival cupola with a wind vane. The returns have 5 windows, with the 1st floor windows featuring rubbed brick flat arches and keystones over small-paned cross-casements; the left return also has a blind window and a lateral stack.

The extension has a 2-window range and 3-window returns, with older brickwork visible to the plinth. It has a platt band above the ground floor and boxed eaves. An entrance on the left return, accessed by steps, features an ashlar doorcase with pilasters and an entablature, leading to a 6-panel door. Windows on this section have rubbed brick flat arches and keystones over small-paned cross-casements, and there are two lateral stacks to the right return.

The interior ground floor is open, featuring a longitudinal arcade supporting chamfered beams. Rooms have cornices and architraved windows. A prominent open-well stair has stick balusters and a wreathed handrail. The 1st floor council chamber has a ceiling with fluted fans to the angles and air vents. It contains an early 19th-century fireplace with a marble surround, and the 1814 Royal Arms are displayed opposite a gallery with turned balusters and a moulded rail. Paired 6-panel doors are also present. The roof of the 1701 portion has pegged collar trusses with diagonal braces, and remnants of former hip trusses remain.

Sir Thomas Guy was a significant local benefactor, founding the Guy's Almshouses in Tamworth and Guy's Hospital in London. Robert Peel, former Prime Minister, helped fund the extension and delivered his Tamworth Manifesto address at the Town Hall in 1835.