Former Ryde Town Hall

This former town hall and market house was built between 1829 and 1831 to designs by James Sanderson. It was extended in 1856, and again between 1867 and 1869, to designs by Frances Newman, when a council chamber and assembly hall were created. Following a fire in 1933, alterations and repairs were carried out. Between 1990 and 1991, the assembly hall was converted into a theatre.

Materials and Construction

The building is constructed of coursed honey-coloured stone, some cut to imitate bricks, with ashlar dressings and later grey-tone stonework. Parts of the building are rendered, including areas finished in Medina cement render. The pitched roof over the central block is covered in slate and features a central lantern. The west wing has a flat asphalt-covered roof, while the east wing's flat roof consists of concrete slabs covered in asphalt. Additional roof lanterns run along the roof behind the southern parapet.

Layout

The town hall has a long rectangular footprint orientated east to west, with the main entrance to the south. It comprises a central block flanked by wings terminated by slightly projecting pavilions—the west wing is single-storey, while the east wing is two storeys. The central block contains the principal staircases, with a former market area on the ground floor and the former town hall (also called the small hall) above, both later subdivided by partitions. Attached to the west is the first-floor council chamber. To the east are the former ground-floor 1840s general market (later subdivided) and the former first-floor 1860s assembly room (also called the large hall), later used as a theatre. The single-storey west wing formerly contained further market stalls, and the single-storey west pavilion; both contain partitions from various periods.

Exterior

The building sits on land that slopes slightly downward to the north.

South Elevation and Central Block

The central two-storey block projects forward from the rest of the building. The front (south) elevation has a colonnade at its base with round Doric columns flanked by rusticated archways, all topped by an entablature. The central columns are linked by decorative iron backs and light fittings, and beyond are three round-headed doorways with semi-circular fanlights. Above is a tetrastyle portico with four Ionic columns joined by an iron railing—this level was modified in the 1860s. Behind the portico are three nine-over-nine sash windows. The portico is flanked by stair towers consisting of two bays with clasped Doric pilasters and round-arch windows. Above is an entablature topped by a parapet with a central pediment over the portico.

Above rises a three-staged clock tower. The lower square stage has corner Doric pilasters and segmental-arch windows, topped by a Greek-key frieze, cornice and urns at the corners. The middle stage has a clock face on each side with a cornice arched above the clock faces; the corners are chamfered. The upper stage is a cupola of eight composite columns topped by a copper dome and a weathervane. The internal clock mechanism is by John Moore and Sons, Clerkenwell.

East Wing and Pavilion

The ground-floor rustication continues across the lower level of the two-storey east wing. The ground floor has squared-headed recesses containing windows and doors. A central recess with a vaulted ceiling houses the First World War timber plaque memorial bearing a dedication from the borough and district of Ryde and the names of the fallen, along with brass details including a laurel and ceiling lamp; the opening has iron railings and is surrounded by a metal architrave and a small canopy. On the first floor, added in the 1860s, are five windows set in stuccoed arched recesses with moulded arches springing from acanthus-leaf decorated imposts.

The three-bay pavilion at the east end, modified and heightened in the 1860s, projects slightly forward. The rusticated ground floor has segmental arch openings, and the first floor features Ionic columns flanked by pilasters and recessed arched windows. The east return of the pavilion has similar treatment and includes a rusticated ground-floor arcade. The rustication continues around the ground-floor level to the rear. Behind the east wing parapet is a flat roof with three glazed pitched-roof lanterns.

West Wing and Pavilion

To the west of the central block is a small setback mid-19th-century two-storey level, including a stair tower, which sits over part of the west wing. The rest of the west wing is single-storey. There are four windows with stucco rounded arches, topped by an entablature and cornice. At the end of the wing is the slightly projecting west pavilion which has three further round-arched openings topped by a deep entablature. The pavilion's west return has a further shallow arch recess containing margin-glazed sashes.

North (Rear) Elevation

To the rear of the east wing, the ground floor openings are mostly in large brick segmental-headed recesses, while the first floor has blank recesses with round arches springing from imposts and topped by a large parapet. Metal fire escapes are attached to the east wing.

The three-window central block projects forward and has round-arched recessed, ground-floor margin-glazed sashes (boarded over), and first-floor square-headed eight-over-eight sashes, with a stepped parapet above. To the west of the central block is a mid-19th-century three-storey range with further segmental and flat-arched sash windows in a variety of styles, including a rear entrance.

The rest of the single-storey west wing, modified in the 1860s, consists of tall recessed arches with stucco detailing which contain margin-glazed sash windows; there are iron pin hinges in the stonework on either side of the arches. The north side of the west wing, which has a lower street level than the south, includes arches to a lower ground floor level.

Interior

Entrance Hall and Principal Staircase

The central block's south entrance hall has a polychromatic tile floor; similar flooring is found in other parts of the ground floor hallways. To the west are two archways with decorative consoles. Through the larger archway is the principal stone staircase with timber handrails; at the upper level the stair banister has decorative carved balustrading.

Ground Floor

The ground floor is the former market level. Surviving original cross walls include the divisions between the central block, the flanking wings, and the west pavilion, as well as some room divisions on the west wing's south side. The cross walling between the central block and the wings retains arched openings, some of which have been infilled. There are also a small number of 19th-century timber and cast-iron fire surrounds—one is located in an electrical cupboard next to the main entrance, while most others are located within the west wing pavilion which contained the former Institute. There is also a strong room in the west end pavilion.

The west wing incorporates some partitions from the 1850s and 1860s; the rest are 1990s partitions. To the north of the wing is a staircase. The central block's ground floor is a formerly large open space with a largely 1990s subdivision and a mezzanine level at the south end. There is timber wainscoting around the central block and parts of the west wing. The east wing's internal ground-floor partitions largely date to the 1867-1869 work, including staircases, with further 1990s partitions. There are further timber staircases in the east wing.

First Floor: Council Chamber

On the first floor, the mid-19th-century council chamber is located over the east end of the west wing, reached by a staircase with a timber balustrade. The chamber has a moulded cornice, and picture and dado rail. An early 20th-century classical-style plaque commemorating the council mayors is located over a stage at the south end. Below are two doors leading to a room behind. Over the north end is a gallery with inbuilt bench seating behind a panelled gallery front and a pair of flat-segmental arches.

First Floor: Former Town Hall (Small Hall)

The first floor within the central range includes the location of the original town hall (also known as the small hall). Above is a coved ceiling with a plaster cornice. A 1930s mezzanine level, toilets and kitchen have been inserted over the south end, and to the east are 1930s folding doors.

First Floor: Theatre (Former Assembly Hall/Large Hall)

To the east is the theatre (formerly the assembly hall, also known as the large hall), which extends over the east wing. The decoration of this room, including the plasterwork, has been largely reconstructed following the fire in the 1930s. The hall walls are lined with pairs of imitation composite pilasters beneath a frieze topped by a modillion cornice, and it is topped by a large coved ceiling with guilloche-patterned ribbing, also reconstruction. There are also panelled mahogany doors.

At the east end of the room is a sloping stage with a proscenium arch. At the back of the stage is the 1930s organ with pipes set in two halves across the back wall; the organ is served by a pressurised air system and a water feed. At the west end is a 1990s steel-frame theatre balcony. Doors in the south side of the gallery lead to a further mezzanine level over the south side of the building.

Roof Structure

The roof over the central block has a timber king-post truss roof.