The Town Hall

The Town Hall, built in 1882 and designed by architect G Crickmay, incorporates the front of the Mercers' Hall from Cheapside, London, which was designed by Edward Jarman in 1668 and brought to Swanage by George Burt. The main structure is made of Purbeck Stone and consists of two storeys, while the front of the Mercers' Hall is constructed from Portland Stone.

The ground floor features a round-arched doorway set in a rusticated surround, topped by carved cherubs supporting a central figure. Above this doorway is a projecting balcony with an ornamental iron balustrade, supported by massive carved console brackets. At the first floor level, a pair of doors opens onto the balcony, framed by a semi-circular arch with a moulded surround and a flat hood on console brackets, which includes carved ornament in the spandrels. Above this, there is an elliptical window with a carved surround.

This entire section is framed by Tuscan pilasters that support a broken pediment, which contains a semi-circular niche flanked by circular windows. The composition extends above the eaves of the main building and is finished with a moulded dentil cornice and a balustraded parapet. On either side of the entrance doorway, there are ornamental cast iron lamp standards, which were cast at Coalbrookdale.