Town Hall and Attached Railings

Details

BRIGHTON

TQ3104SW BARTHOLOMEWS
577-1/64/21 Town Hall and attached railings
20/08/71

II

Town hall. 1830-1832; reconstructed and enlarged 1897-99.
Designed by Thomas Cooper. Stucco. Roof parapeted. Greek
Revival style.
EXTERIOR: the original structure had 4 storeys; dominating
each elevation was a 2-stage, 4 storey pedimented portico with
a Doric Order below and an Ionic above; the elevation to the
east was the most imposing, appearing to have extra height due
to the steep fall in the site; a broad flight of steps
originally filled Bartholomews.
The main block of the building was square in plan and to this
block the porticos were attached; there were single storey
pavilions at each corner with heavy rebated pilasters and a
lower single storey range running between each corner and a
portico. The result was of a modified Greek Cross plan. It
should be noted, however, that the plan and design was, from
the time of its completion, never regular. Apart from the
giant 2-stage porticos several other features can be glimpsed
through the late C19 overlay; among these are: the rebated
corner pilasters, the windows and architraves under the
surviving porticos, the simple Tuscan aedicules to the second
floor windows, and the high basement on the east facade with
its segmental-arched windows.
Many of the cast-iron railings seem also to survive from the
time of the building's completion, although they are very
likely no longer in their original positions.
The following description treats the building as it was
enlarged to serve the increased needs of the Borough.
The west elevation has a 10-window range, the north 7, and the
east 12. Centre block of 4 storeys, with 3-storey set-back
blocks filling in the arms of the Greek cross; basement and
sub-basement throughout. When completed the design had fewer
storeys. The 2-stage porticos on west and north elevations are
the only parts of the first design to remain more or less
untouched.
Each elevation conforms roughly to the following description.
Giant Doric tetrastyle portico to centre, its entablature with
a triglyph and metope frieze; above a giant Ionic tetrastyle
portico with pediment. Originally short side walls continued
back from responds of end columns. Pairs of clustered corner
pilasters, the area between which and the porticoes is now
articulated into bays by giant pilasters to the first 2
floors, the whole area run over with banded rustication, a
feature which dates to the late C19 as do the numerous windows
with keyed architraves. All windows, whether from 1830 or
1897, are flat arched. It is certain that the attic storey's
broad, shallow entablature is another remnant of Cooper's
design. There are flat-arched entrances to be found under each
portico. The east-facing elevation has the most irregular plan
of all. This elevation, which rises from a heavily rusticated
basement made prominent by the fall in the site to the east,
sets back at the third floor, except for the third- to the
sixth-window range, the centre section of which projects
slightly from the front wall to form a full-height inset
which, on the second and third floors, is a giant Ionic
tetrastyle pilastrade, recalling the second stages of the
double-height porticos on the other elevations. This feature
refers to the original 2-tier portico which was removed in the
course of alterations. The ground- and first-floor windows
have keyed architraves more elaborate than any found on the
other elevations. There is a first-floor balcony, comprised of
3 curving sections, each supported by thick brackets; the
balcony is enclosed by sections of panelled socle and a
balustrade. The eighth- and ninth-window range sets back
further than any other section of the facade, terminating in a
chamfered corner.
INTERIOR: the interior is dominated by a full-height stair
well, rectangular in plan, running on a north/south axis. This
is filled by a nearly free-standing stair structure with
galleries to offices on all sides; late C19 in date. The hall
is lit by a skylight and floored with mosaics in a floral and
wave pattern. Other important features include: a large
Council Chamber in the south range of the second floor and
police holding cells on the east and south sides of the
basement and sub-basement. Between 1984 and 1987 Bartholomew
House and Priory House (not included) were added to the south
of the building to give more space for municipal offices.


Listing NGR: TQ3109904012

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

479446

Legacy System:

LBS

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