Town Hall

Renaissance style with some European influences. Symmetrical entrance front of two storeys with attics and basement; red brick with orange terracotta dressings on rusticated Pennant sandstone basement. Steep slate roof with painted clock turret originally crowned by a cupola (removed).

Seven bay façade with advanced outer and central bays surmounted by shaped pedimented gables and linked by arcaded balustrading which continues in the parapets of the full-height canted bay windows of the outer gables. The whole elevation is articulated by full-height pilasters rising through the balustrades, continuous sill bands and string courses, and is enriched with decorated capitals, spandrels, brackets and cartouche panels. Central round-arched entrance up steps with curved balustrades and pedestals carrying ironwork lamp-brackets; ironwork double gates to entrance. The entrance is flanked by elongated brackets carrying pedestals topped with heraldic lions, to either side of a cantilevered balcony over the door, opening from a Shaw-style window at first floor. Outer gables have full-height canted bays with mullioned and transomed windows (three tiers and stained glass to principal chambers on first floor). Between these gables and the entrance bay, round-arched ground-floor windows give an arcaded effect, with narrow 2-light mullioned and transomed windows above.

Similar detailing to long right-hand return elevation, with corbelled bay window over arched doorway, bowed turret with pyramidal roof at angle. Elevation to New Castle Street to left steps uphill with similar detailing, and splays forward at entrance to County Court (dated 1896); tall gable-end with curved angle to rear on Tramroad Side North.

The building was designed to house the council offices and also the county court. The building was planned around a long internal courtyard, with council offices occupying the front block, and the court and council chamber the rear range. A perimeter corridor linked all areas. The main front block has central entrance hall leading to spacious stair hall at the rear: both are richly decorated with faience and glazed tiles, and exceptionally fine imperial staircase has ironwork balustrading incorporating cartouches, with lamp pedestals to the base. Stained glass stair window onto internal courtyard. Good interior detail including arched and pedimented door heads, panelled dados and low relief friezes. Main chamber at first floor level has curved ceiling divided by ribs sprung from corbels and with central pendants. Mayor's parlour at centre, with leaded lights in doorway to balcony.

Rear range housed court room and council chamber at first floor: original layout damaged in later alterations, but unusual cast-iron roof trusses with decorated spandrels survive, as do the cells beneath the court room.