Former Town Hall

The former Town Hall, now part of an entertainment centre, was built between 1903 and 1904 by C E Bateman and Alfred Hale of Birmingham. Arthur J Dix contributed stained glass to the front windows in 1911, and the Council Chamber was panelled between 1914 and 1918. The building is dated 1904 on the rainwater heads. The facade is of orange rubbed brick with white Portland stone outer bays, and features a ground storey and dressings of stone. The roof is covered with Collyweston stone slate, while the flanks, rear elevation, and rear hall range are in red brick with a slate roof.

The symmetrical front block has seven bays in a mannered ‘Queen Anne’ style. A central Ionic doorcase has attached columns and an entablature with scrolled quarter pediments framing a wrought iron balcony, richly carved with acanthus, egg and dart motifs, and the words "Town Hall" on the frieze. The central five bays have ashlar faced ground floor windows with segmental heads, architraves, and keystones. Tall first floor windows have stone moulded architraves, keystones, and dentilled cornices. A modillion cornice sits above an egg and dart frieze across all seven bays. The attic storey has paired casements in stone frames with stone mullions, shell ‘keys’, and stone framed brick panels. The projecting outer bays are ashlar faced with blocked ground storey recesses, channelled rusticated first floor windows, and cross windows with shouldered architraves and cornices. The attic storey has a keyed round window flanked by panelled pilasters to a broken segmental pediment, all richly carved with foliage and a central cartouche. A steeply pitched hipped roof is surmounted by a clock turret with columns and an octagonal, copper-roofed open cupola. The left flank elevations are plainer with a chequered stone and brick band. The rear hall range has six bays with tall cross windows set in arched recesses and a central cupola.

Inside, the first floor main front room (former council chamber) is lavishly oak panelled, and was restored between 1990 and 1992. Stained glass windows from 1911 by Arthur J Dix depict ‘Progress’ (central, behind the balcony) and prominent Buckinghamshire residents, including John Hampden, William Penn, Edmund Burke, and Benjamin Disraeli. The entrance hall features Tuscan columns. The attached Wycombe Swan entertainment centre to the rear is not of special interest.