The Town Hall

The Town Hall, built between 1806 and 1808, was designed by Thomas Baldwin of Bath and incorporates elements of a preceding 17th-century building. It is a fine and elegant example of its type, constructed from Bath stone.

The north front features a full-height central segmental bow. The ground floor is rusticated and sits on a projecting plinth. A moulded first-floor string course carries six semi-engaged, unfluted Ionic columns, supporting an entablature with a curved frieze and blocking course above. There are five windows in total. The ground-floor windows are segment-headed within the bow and semi-circular-headed on the sides, featuring radiating and wreathed glazing patterns to the heads – the wreaths are only present on the three central windows, and they are set within plain stone recesses. The ground floor was originally open. The first-floor bow windows have architrave surrounds with outer half-pilasters, acanthus heads, a plain frieze cornice, and pediments. The outer first-floor windows have plain surrounds with a panel above. An iron balcony with a diamond and oval pattern is centrally located.

The side elevations feature four sash windows and two tall, eight-panel doors on the ground floor, each with semi-circular radiating and wreathed fanlights within wide, segment-headed stone recesses framed by stone Doric pilasters and a panelled frieze. The first floor has six windows, three of which are blind. A false second floor has six blind windows. The curved rear elevation is of generally similar design to the sides but is structured with two stringcourses and vertical piers. This rear elevation has five windows, with one and two being blind on the first and second floors respectively. Side bays on the ground floor have one oval window each. The left-hand bay has a recessed studded door with a grill.

The rear and side walls incorporate a shallow cornice and parapet with coping. Contemporary cast lead rainwater pipes are placed around the building, featuring cast lead heads enriched with the Town Arms.

Inside on the first floor is a large Assembly Room with delicate, Adam-style plasterwork. The north-facing windows feature a bow and two apses at each end. A small musicians’ gallery, flanked by Ionic pilasters, sits above the entrance door. The room includes an anthemion cornice, and the vestibule has a lantern.