Redbridge Town Hall including former Library to rear

Redbridge Town Hall is a town hall built in phases between 1899 and 1933, occupying a continuous range on High Road and Oakfield Road. The original building of 1899–1901 was designed by Ben Woollard, architect, in an eclectic Renaissance manner. Additions were made in 1931–3 by L.E.J. Reynolds, borough engineer, and a former public library was constructed in 1925 by H. Shaw, borough engineer. The separate structures were joined together during the 1931–3 works to form one continuous range.

Materials and Construction

The building is constructed of Bath stone with slate roofs concealed behind parapets. The 1931–3 additions incorporate a steel frame with a Bath stone facade and slate mansard roof with copper dressings.

High Road Elevation

The High Road elevation of the 1899–1901 building presents a symmetrical composition of five bays, arranged 1:5:1:5:1, with two storeys and a basement. The outer bays form pavilions, while the central bay rises to three storeys, all breaking forward from the main facade. The ground floor is channelled, and the upper storeys of the outer bays have narrow, banded quoins. A deep egg and dart cornice runs across the elevation.

The central bay is canted at ground floor level, with upper storeys set between canted shafts that rise above the parapet. The ground floor features a three-bay round-arched lobby with enriched mouldings supporting a shaped balcony—the centre is convex and balustraded, flanked by concave panels. Buttress-like piers with facetted shafts and banded quoins echo the outer bays, flanking a steeply pedimented Ionic alcove set between vertical small-paned lights under an enriched panel. Above a moulded cornice are triple small-paned lights under a shaped hood mould. The composition is crowned by a cupola with an Ionic pavilion at each angle, each surmounted by a bulbous facetted finial. The cupola has a three-bay arcade to each face beneath a depressed copper dome.

The outer bays feature, at ground floor level on the left, a sash window with glazing bars, and on the right, a paired doorway. At first floor level, each bay has an oriel window with either sash windows with glazing bars or small-paned fixed lights. At the outer angles, the parapet takes the form of triangular panels, most with enriched faces. A shaped octagonal Ionic pavilion sits beneath the cupola.

The inner bays each have a semicircular canopy on Ionic columns, carrying a balustraded parapet bearing a coat of arms. The outer round arches lead to coffered barrel-vaulted lobbies, with a pair of part-glazed panelled doors between similar margin panels with shaped heads under an enriched swan-neck pedimented panel, beneath round-arched overlights with vertical glazed lights. The doors to the right entrance retain coloured leaded lights. Flanking sash windows with glazing bars are set in moulded architraves. At first floor level, the five bays feature attached Ionic columns framing similar sashes with enriched architraves, each under a blind round arch. A balustraded parapet crowns the elevation.

Oakfield Road Elevation

The Oakfield Road elevation comprises three distinct building phases from 1899–1901, 1925, and 1931–3.

The 1899–1901 phase consists of two storeys and a basement, arranged 3:5:1. It was intended as a symmetrical scheme, with the outer bay reflecting that on High Road. The basement is channelled. To the left, the first floor has a Palladian window beneath a steep open pediment, flanked by shorter similar windows terminating at a cornice band. The ground floor has sash windows with glazing bars in simple openings, with similar treatment to the ground and first floor windows of the bays to the right. A deep continuous cornice runs along the top, with alternating blank and balustraded parapet.

The 1931–3 phase is symmetrical, arranged in five bays with three storeys, an attic storey, dormers, and a basement. The rusticated entrance is set under an arch with shaped voussoirs, with a pair of panelled oak doors with bronze fittings. To the left and right are triple small-paned sashes; those flanking the entrance sit on a bracketed cill bearing seated lions. The outer bays have first floor oriel windows, while the central bay has a tripartite window in a pedimented architrave, flanked by similar small-paned sashes to those at ground floor. The second floor has shallow ranges of three and five small-paned casements, with the central paired lights under a round arch, all beneath a continuous cornice band. A deep moulded cornice sits above. The attic storey has small-paned casements repeating the rhythm of the second floor, behind alternating panelled and balustraded parapet. The roof has three flat-roofed dormers, possibly altered, with outer small-paned occuli in moulded architraves. A tall stack rises from the outer panel of the attic storey. The right-hand bay, of three storeys under a lower roofline, was remodelled in 1931–3.

The 1925 phase comprises the former central library with offices above, included as part of the municipal development of the Oakfield Road elevation. It is constructed of brick with a Bath stone facade and has three storeys with later attic additions. The left-hand entrance bay is set forward, with a rusticated round-arched entrance with panelled oak doors under a large fanlight. Giant order pilasters support an open pediment and frame narrow tripartite windows on the first and second floors; at second floor level, the window is treated as a Palladian window with a pronounced keystone. To the right, the building has a channelled plinth. The ground and first floor windows are small-paned sashes grouped in pairs or threes, with similar Palladian windows to the upper floor. Square-framed attic storey windows are later additions above.

Interior: 1899–1901 Phase

The elliptical crush lobby has curved part-glazed doors flanking alcoves with fan decoration to the niche. A bronze war memorial sits over the inner doors. The floors are terrazzo with mosaic margins.

The public hall has embellished square piers supporting a panelled frieze between robust brackets. An elliptical proscenium arch sits on moulded pilasters, with an almost Baroque frieze above. A small gallery sits over the entrance. The roof is elliptical and top-lit with deep moulded ribs.

The monumental stair leads to the former council chamber and committee rooms. At the base, heavy square newels with strapwork panels support a pair of Ionic columns. The closed string stair has chunky turned balusters and a broad, shaped, ramped grey polished stone balustrade, rising to form a horseshoe at the upper landing. The stairwell is top-lit with deep ribbed coving above a heavy cornice. Eared doorcases with shallow swan-neck pediments each have a pair of panelled doors with brass door furniture. The former council chamber has been reordered with a suspended ceiling, but the pilasters remain.

Interior: 1931–3 Phase

The council chamber measures six by three bays and is lined with fluted Ionic columns in Siena marble with bronzed or gilded caps and bases, on a black marble plinth and dado, between panels of Indian laurel (or possibly walnut) under a scagliola frieze arranged in symmetrical panels. The elliptical roof has glazed panels with coloured margins matching those of the clerestory windows. The coffered ceiling has deep moulded ribs. The doors are panelled externally to match those in the corridors and internally have moulded panels with bronze door handles and plates. A tripartite mayoral dais with the Borough crest is set forward from the entrance, with a horseshoe arrangement of seating and a tiered public gallery at the rear. The dais and other fittings are in walnut. A clock sits over the public gallery. The parquet floor has an emblem reflecting the treatment of the ceiling. Some seating is said to be from the former Ilford Council, some from Wanstead and Woodford.

The Mayor's parlour is fully panelled in Indian laurel (or possibly walnut), with a panelled chimneypiece with a replaced fireplace and a plaster moulded ceiling.

The Members' room is fully panelled, and the chimneypiece retains its original marble slips and grate.

The corridors have a tall panelled dado with a ribbed band. The doors have a single, flat, raised panel with rondels at the angles, a theme repeated throughout the building.

The rear staircase has a coloured tiled dado. At each landing is an oak-framed screen glazed with small leaded panes and a pair of doors with panels with rondels, below small-paned leaded lights with margin glazing.

The Refreshment Room (Lambourne Room) has applied Art Deco treatment to octagonal piers, pilasters, and wall panels. It has been recently refurbished but remains structurally intact. The lighting is late 20th century.

Former Central Library

The former central library and offices, now planning offices, are included for the elevation to Oakfield Road. The library comprised a Reading Room to Oakfield Road, a Junior Room and Reference Room flanking a central Lending Room. There is a range of lunettes to the inner light well. The Lending Room sits under a central ribbed glazed dome with simple pilasters to the walls. The Junior Room and Reference Room are top-lit; the former has plain pilasters, the latter has slightly battered Ionic pilasters. Small sections of oak panelling and shelving remain.

Historical Context

This imposing town hall reflects Ilford's dramatic late Victorian expansion. Newly created as an Urban District Council, the borough held a design competition in which Woollard's design was placed second. The phased building of the complex reflected delays in construction and the outbreak of the First World War. Later additions were made in a contextual manner in the 1920s and 1930s. A proposal to demolish this building and replace it with a design by Frederick Gibberd was not proceeded with. The spectacular council chamber is among the most impressive examples in Greater London.