The Town Hall

The Town Hall was built between 1762 and 1763. Originally, the ground floor served as a market before being converted into a police court. The building has two storeys and features seven windows, with the easternmost and westernmost windows slightly set back. The ground floor is constructed of Portland ashlar above red brick, with stone dressings. It has a stone modillion cornice and a brick parapet with a pediment above the three easternmost windows of the non-recessed section. A cupola with eight Ionic columns supports a small dome topped with a gilded ball and weather vane. The first-floor windows are framed with stone architrave surrounds and have pediments that alternate between triangular and curved shapes. The ground floor includes large round-headed windows flanked by pilasters, with a stringcourse above. There are two round-headed doorways featuring large semi-circular fanlights and six-panelled doors. The east end of the building has a canted bay with three windows. Inside, the Council Chamber boasts a fine Rococo painted ceiling and wall drops of musical instruments by Galli and Cotti. It also contains two 18th-century pedimented overmantels and six fielded panelled doors. Additionally, there are two large cells with graffiti carved by prisoners, as this building was used as a prison before the construction of the prison on Boxley Road. The Town Hall incorporates timbers from an earlier timber-framed building that once stood on the site.