Old Town Hall, Swindon

The Old Town Hall is a former municipal building of 1854 in the High Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

The Old Town Hall
The tower in 1994
LocationSwindon
Coordinates51.5512°N 1.7731°W / 51.5512; -1.7731
Built1854
ArchitectSampson Sage and E Robertson
Architectural style(s)Neo-classical style
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated2 October 1951
Reference no.1023523
Shown in Wiltshire

History

Until the construction of the town hall on the High Street, the town council had met in the Goddard Arms on the High Street.[2] This small pub had been owned by the Goddard family since 1621 and was a small cottage alehouse known as the Crown until 1820.[2] The Goddard Arms was used for public meetings in the early 19th century and was used in this way by Ambrose Goddard to report progress on the Wilts & Berks Canal.[2]

The town hall, which was designed by Sampson Sage and E Robertson in the neo-classical style, was completed in 1854.[1][3] The main frontage has five bays separated by full-height Tuscan order pilasters, with arched windows on the ground floor, casement windows on the first floor and a pediment and roof lantern above.[1]

The building was extended to the northeast with a tower, as well as accommodation for a corn exchange at ground floor level, to the designs of Wilson and Willcox of Bath in 1866.[1] A wine store was built on an adjoining site and its upper hall was used as a magistrates' court from 1871 to 1891.[2]

After civic functions transferred to the new town hall in 1891, the building became a roller skating rink in 1910,[4] and a cinema known as the Rink in 1919. After the Second World War it was refurbished and re-opened as the Locarno Dance Hall.[4] Performers at the dance hall included the singer, Cilla Black, in April 1964,[5] followed by the rock bands, The Yardbirds in July 1964,[6] The Who in October 1965[6] and the Small Faces in November 1965.[7] The building subsequently served as a bingo hall but became vacant in the late 1970s.[8]

The building was acquired by bar owner, Gael Mackenzie, in 1999.[9] Major fires took place in the building in May 2003 and again in May 2004.[8] In November 2016, Swindon council entered into a development agreement with Swindon Corn Exchange Limited, a business managed by housebuilder, Steve Rosier, under which Rosier agreed to pursue a development on the site.[10] However, after no progress was made with the development and the building continued to decay, the council threatened to use a compulsory purchase order to re-acquire the property in January 2020.[11][12]

References
  1. Historic England. "Corn Exchange and Town Hall, Swindon (1023523)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. Child, Mark (2002). Swindon : An Illustrated History. United Kingdom: Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 1-85983-322-5.
  3. "Swindon Old Town Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan" (PDF). Swindon Council. p. 9. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. "Locarno pictures bring back happy memories". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. "Rock 'n' Roll Wiltshire". BBC. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. "It's now or never for the Locarno". Swindon Advertiser. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  7. "Were you at Small Faces' Locarno gig?". Swindon Advertiser. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. "New hope for Locarno". Swindon Advertiser. 27 December 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. "Demolition plan for Swindon's Locarno listed building". BBC. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. "Swindon's Corn Exchange and Old Town Hall saved as contracts are signed on regeneration project". Swindon Link. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  11. "Swindon Borough Council issues Locarno threat". BBC. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. "Swindon council pulls plug on deal to convert iconic Corn Exchange". Swindon Advertiser. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
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