Everything about West Bromwich Town Hall totally explained
West Bromwich Town Hall is a
Grade II listed town hall in
West Bromwich,
West Midlands,
England. It is part of the Walk West Bromwich Heritage Trail.
The
West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners (1854-1882) purchased prime land, previously part of
West Bromwich Heath, from the rich
Izon family, for the erection of public buildings including the Town Hall.
The Town Hall, situated in the centre of High Street, was built between
1874 and
1875 in brick and stone to an Italian
Gothic design of the architects
Alexander & Henman of
Stockton-on-Tees,
Middlesbrough and the building contractors were Trow & Sons of
Wednesbury.
At the main entrance of the Town Hall is a triplet of arches supported by stone columns with carved capitals, which are decorated with medieval carved heads representing the twelve months of the year. A flight of stone steps lead up from the High Street into a wide corridor which encircles the main hall.
The interior of the Town Hall reflects the Victorian interest in Gothic and Medieval architecture. The ceilings, the iron work, the walls and pillars have been decorated from designs by the architects and the "harmonious blending of colours, and the magnificent stencil work costing many days of artistic and patient labour, can't be too highly praised and words can hardly express the charming effect they've produced."
(West Bromwich Weekly News, August 1875)
The wall of the main staircase leading from the corridor to the balcony has a large
stained glass window with a centre panel containing the design of the crest and motto of the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners. The main tower is 40 metres tall.
The balcony in the main hall overlooks the fine
maple floor of the
ballroom, which leads up to the stage at the far end of the hall. Unique semi-circular cast-iron principals in the roof dominate the stage and form a setting for The Grand Organ.
The Grand Organ was a gift from
Alexander Brogden,
MP for Wednesbury, in
1878. It was built by
Forster and Andrews of
Hull following the
International Exhibition of
1862 and is one of twelve organs built for town halls up and down the country by the firm. In May 1997 the organ was awarded a certificate by the
British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) as it was considered to be of historic importance for its musical and technical qualities. It was recorded as historic in the
National Pipe-Organ Register at
Cambridge University.
Further Information
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