| Description | Town Hall, Wood Street. Wakefield.
'1877 80 by T E Collcutt. Inverted U shaped range embracing a large public room behind (possibly once intended as the Council Chamber but now the Magistrates Court). Imposing building in a freely interpreted north European Gothic style with Jacobean decorative touches. Very steeply pitched Welsh slate roofs having ornamental shaped and pedimented gable ends and tall, many shafted chimneys. Ashlar in narrow, irregular courses. Windows mostly large 2 or 3 light cross casements. Main east front of three tall storeys and attic, three bays. Top storey has huge pedimented bay windows, breaking eaves. Attic is set back with a balustraded balcony. 1st floor oriels. Projecting central entrance has free decorative detail and a balustraded balcony over. At north corner is a great tower of six stages below a clock face and one deeply arched stage over it, crowned by parapet before set back top storey and tall mansard. Fairly regular 3 storey 7 bay north front. South elevation to Lee Street has two large end masses crowned by gables and a lower intermediate section having a central entrance with large round arched doorway. A similar mass rises behind. Collcutt also designed the interior of which much survives including some furniture. The Court Room, the Mayor's Parlour, the Council Chamber and (especially) the Members' Lounge contain rich relief decorations, carved fireplaces and very good woodwork'.
(English Heritage listed building description. Date listed 30/03/1971. http://list.english heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1258995. Web site accessed 18/12/2013).
WYAAS holds a small archive of material relating to the Town Hall on Wood Street. Items include:
Photographic images prodcued by Peter Thornborrow (WYAAS) prior to 1990 of fly posters on and around the Town Hall (Thornborrow, P.H. (WYAS). Pre 1990).
A brochure advertsing the Town Hall for 'eating out, functions, conferences and weddings' (Wakefield Council. 1991. 'Under the clock tower'. Venue brochure).
Notes and photocopied material forming the research archive of Peter Thornborrow (WYAS)(date unknown). |