| Summary : This town hall was the result of a particularly bad competition, from which buildings in the Gothic or Elizabethan style were excluded. It was built in 1878-80 to an Italianate design by Robert Walker. It was extended at the rear in 1898-9 to the joint designs of Wiliam Weaver, the vestry's surveyor, and William G. Hunt, a local architect. However, this building is perhaps new best known for its unfortunate demise. In 1982 the Royal Borough controversially began demolition in the face of an impending conservation order. The shell remained standing for a further two years whilst attempts were made at salvaging what remained, but it was finally pulled down in 1984. |