Islington Town Hall

Islington Town Hall

Town hall designed by E.C.P. Monson. The rear wing facing Richmond Grove was constructed in 1922, and the northern part fronting Upper Street in 1925.

The front wing is built of stone and brown brick with roofs obscured by parapet, executed in Classical style. The principal front to Upper Street has a base of polished granite with upper storeys faced in Portland and other stones, divided into three distinct parts.

The northern section features steps leading to a flat-arched, architraved entrance within an enclosed porch, which forms a centrepiece to a three-window range. Above the porch, a cornice breaks forward on brackets over a datestone inscribed MCMXXV, with a plain pediment surmounted by the borough coat of arms flanked by festoons with an urn behind. Two-storey window openings to either side are fitted with ornamental metal panels between floors and Corinthian pilasters. A flat-arched window above the porch carries a moulded architrave. A frieze with incised lettering reads "ISLINGTON TOWN HALL". A modillion cornice surmounts this, with a stepped parapet to the centre pierced by short balustrade sections to either side.

The central part brings the granite base forward and contains three identical two-storey window openings in the upper part, flanked by Corinthian pilasters. The window openings have architraves and floating cornices with carved winged heads above, with metal panels set low in each opening. The entablature from the first part continues, surmounted by a pediment fronting the parapet.

The southern part turns the corner into Richmond Grove. An entrance is positioned in a stepped polished granite base, with a single window above to Upper Street featuring a bracketed sill, architrave and cornice on consoles. The entablature continues with a parapet above, slightly set back and surmounted by a very shallow gable. In Richmond Grove, the corner bay initially displays a granite base and Portland stone above, then alters to a Portland stone ground floor with brown brick and stone detailing above. The cornice continues from Upper Street. A single-storey screen wall links to the rear wing.

The rear wing is constructed of stone and brown brick, comprising three storeys over basement with ten bays in an all-but-symmetrical composition. This consists of a central entrance bay and four matching bays to either side, with one additional small bay to the west. The basement is faced with rusticated Portland stone, with windows segmental-arched and keystoned. Steps lead to the entrance flanked by cast-iron lampholders. The entrance is set within a two-storey centrepiece featuring a flat-arched entrance with cornice and overlight, flanked by three sets of superimposed pilasters. The outer pair supports an entablature which breaks forward twice, the front cornice supported on scrolled brackets with a datestone inscribed MCMXXII to the frieze. The entablature supports a first-floor window balcony with railings, the window itself carrying an architrave and scrolled consoles. First and second-floor windows are all flat-arched. Outwards from the central bay: the first set has architraved windows with bracketed sills and keystones to the first floor; the second comprises two-storey openings with gauged brick heads and stone keystones, with garlanded stone panels between floors, and sidelights separated by slim metal columns to the first floor and metal pilasters to the second; the third and fourth sets are architraved with gauged red brick heads. A modillion cornice tops the main storeys. The attic storey has a central festooned oculus, followed by flat-arched openings with stone architrave, then flat-arched openings with gauged brick heads. A stone cornice and stepped parapet complete the elevation.

Interior

The principal entrance is through the 1925 front entrance facing Upper Street. A lobby leads through a double-height entrance hall with pilasters (of marble to the ground floor) and a marble staircase with fat urn-like balusters. A heavy cornice and cove rise to a circular central skylight with fan tracery. A statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton, a copy of that listed at Islington Green, stands within.

The principal rooms are located on the first floor. The council chamber sits on the axis of the main entrance. It is octagonal, with Diocletian dormers set within a dome, double-height with a public gallery positioned over the entrance. The chamber is panelled with Ionic half-columns and pilasters. Fixed council seating has elaborate pew ends and fronts carved with swags and upturned volutes, executed in the manner of Edwardian Baroque. The upper parts of the chamber feature plaster pilasters, volutes over the oak columns, and roundel reliefs, with a dentil cornice and moulded ribs to the ceiling. A central rosette with elaborate plaster tracery supports an original pendant light. Behind the council chamber, facing Upper Street, are the former Members' room and Lady Members' room, with simpler plaster panels to walls and coffered ceilings. A screen of narrow timber panels can be pulled back to unite these rooms if desired. A curved bolection-moulded fireplace remains vestigially Baroque.

The principal committee room is positioned above the 1922 entrance. This contains Tuscan columns and heavy voussoirs within a vestibule, with a dentilled cornice to the inner hall. A simpler Imperial stair with cast-iron balustrade between marble piers and marble-lined architrave surrounds to entrances off the upper landing leads to it. The principal committee room is capable of subdivision by fixed, folding screens into three rooms if desired: the central one of three bays, those to either side of one. All feature oak panelling, cornices, heavy coves and richly moulded ceilings with circular fan-like plaster-traceried semi-domes, from which hang original bronze chandeliers. Wall sconces are also original. Double doors to the central committee room have a lavishly-moulded architrave surround incorporating a clock. The panelling integrates radiator grilles beneath windows, these decorated with cast-iron ornament. The other committee rooms are simpler but all panelled, reached off a spinal corridor with a deep cornice band that serves as capitals when interrupted by projecting marble pilasters. These define a coving of ceiling which rises as a series of semi-domes, also articulated in the mosaic flooring.