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West Bromwich Town Hall
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, cannot be too highly
praised and words can hardly express the charming effect they have
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.
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