The Town Hall

1. 5190 SZ 0278 NE 5/60 26.6.52

HIGH STREET (north side) No 64 (The Town Hall)

II GV

2. Built 1882. Architect G Crickmay. Incorporates the front of the Mercers' Hall, from Cheapside, London, designed by Edward Jarman in 1668 and brought to Swanage by George Burt. The main building of Purbeck Stone, of 2-storeys, the Mercers' Hall front of Portland Stone. The ground storey has a round-arched doorway in a rusticated surround, surmounted by carved cherubs supporting a central figure. Above this is a projecting balcony, with an ornamental iron balustrade, carried on massive carved console brackets. At first floor level, a pair of doors leads on to the balcony. The doors are set in a semi-circular arch, with moulded surround, and a flat hood on console brackets, with carved ornament in the spandrels. Above this is an elliptical window with carved surround. The whole of this stage is set in a frame with Tuscan pilasters supporting a broken pediment. In the centre of this is a semi-circular niche with circular windows on each side above the pediment. The whole composition, which extends above the eaves of the main building, is finished with a moulded dentil cornice and balustraded parapet. On each side of the entrance doorway are ornamental cast iron lamp standards, cast at Coalbrookdale. RCHM Monument 4.

Listing NGR: SZ0299078739