Guildhall With Attached Rear Boundary Wall

Guildhall, Weymouth

A Guildhall built in 1836–7 to designs by Talbot Bury, constructed in Portland stone ashlar with rendered rear and party walls and a slate roof. The building exemplifies formal classical architecture, dominated by a tall projecting portico carried on an open arcaded ground storey that extends across the pavement. Late 20th-century modifications have been made to the building.

The exterior presents a refined two-storey composition with a five-bay principal front to St Edmund Street and a three-bay return to Maiden Street. The main front follows a 1:3:1 window pattern. A tetrastyle Ionic portico with pediment rises above three 15-pane sash windows in moulded architraves, the central light fitted with a cornice on scrolled consoles. The outer bays contain tripartite 5:15:5-pane sashes with stone pilaster mullions and entablature, positioned between main pilasters and responds that relate to the portico. All upper-floor windows sit on a continuous sill band with ovolo mould, which extends as a base to the portico columns.

The ground floor is channelled with voussoirs. A 9-pane arched sash with radial head is set in a plat surround with panelled apron, flanked by three arched openings. The central opening is elliptical and surmounts a pair of three-panel doors; the side openings are fitted with bold cast-iron gates leading to small lobbies. The left lobby contains a four-pane flush door beneath a four-pane transom light, accessed by four stone steps; the right lobby, where the soffit has been lowered, has a similar door. The three centre bays are sheltered beneath the projecting portico, which functions as a porte-cochère with three front openings and single end openings, all arched. The front features a high plain plinth, a full entablature, and four square piers with moulded caps at blocking-course level.

The party wall to the left is plain and rendered. The Maiden Street front replicates the main façade's detailing, with plain ashlar above a channelled ground storey on a plain plinth. The first floor is divided into five bays by full-height pilasters and end responds, containing three deep 15-pane sashes set to pilasters with inset entablature on a sill band; the end bays are blank. The ground floor here has three arched sashes (the centre one blind) and two high arched openings with heavy cast-iron gates backed by plate glass, these formerly providing access to an internal open passageway. Above the entablature are six piers with cappings but no connecting blocking course. The rear wall displays three large sashes, the centre one without glazing bars, and a parallel lower range of two-storey work containing two arched sashes, corner pilasters, cornice and blocking course.

The interior opens through entrance doors set in a deep chamfered plain stone surround, fitted with heavy strap hinges extending around the elliptical top rails. Four stone steps lead to a square hall with stone flooring. To left and right, arched doorways with cast-iron gates provide access to vaulted chambers off an inner corridor, each with four-panel flush doors beneath fanlights. The hall terminates with three lofty arches spanning a wide stone staircase that divides from a landing into flights with risers. The cast-iron balustrades support a heavy mahogany wreathed handrail. At the landing is a deep niche containing a white marble statue signed 'THEAKSTON, Sculp: 1821', depicting Samuel Weston, who served as Mayor four times and died in 1817; the statue was funded by public subscription. One of three landing sashes carries an engraved panel with the Weymouth Arms. Internal doors are generally four-panelled.

The upper floor originally comprised two distinct spaces—a Court Room and a Council Chamber—now unified as a single chamber running across the front. The centre section is marked by square painted pilasters and responds carrying deep beams supporting a simple compartmental ceiling with egg-and-dart cornice below a deep plain frieze and 19th-century moulded ceiling cornice. The centre features a raised and recessed platform backed by panelling with a panelled front balustrade. Royal Arms are positioned at each end of the chamber: at the east end, carved Royal Arms of Queen Victoria dated 1842, and at the west end, a fine painted and carved Arms of James I supported by gilded figures representing Peace and Plenty. George I Arms on canvas, possibly presented by James Thornhill in 1721, the year of his election as Member of Parliament, are also displayed.

As a building of considerable architectural dignity, the Guildhall's full character cannot be fully appreciated due to its situation on a narrow street. It occupies the site of a former Melcombe Regis Town Hall. Behind the building, at the far end of the rear wall, a projecting section of high rubble wall possibly dates from the earlier building.

An attached rear boundary wall is included in this listing.