Oxford Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oxford Town Hall |
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View from the southwest
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| General information | |
| Type | Town hall, museum, former library and police station |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan |
| Classification | |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated: | 12 January 1954 |
| Reference #: | 1047153 |
| Location | St Aldate's, Oxford |
| Coordinates | 51°45′06″N 1°15′25″W / 51.7516°N 1.2569°W |
| Construction started | 1893 |
| Completed | 1897 |
| Renovated | Main Hall repainted in 2015 |
| Cost | £100,000 |
| Owner | Oxford City Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Hare |
Oxford Town Hall is an important public building in the heart of Oxford, England. It's located on a street called St Aldate's. This building is where the Oxford City Council meets to make decisions for the city. It's also a popular place for public events, shows, and gatherings. Inside, you'll find the Museum of Oxford, which tells the story of the city. Even though Oxford is a big city, its main government building is still called a "Town Hall." This building is the third one to stand on this spot, and it was finished in 1897. It's considered a very special historical building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Oxford Town Hall
Early Buildings on This Spot
Long ago, in 1292, a building called the Guildhall stood where the Town Hall is today. A Guildhall was a meeting place for local leaders and merchants. It was replaced in 1752 by the first official Town Hall. This older Town Hall was designed by an architect named Isaac Ware.
Designing the Current Building
By 1891, the city decided it needed a new, bigger building. They held a special competition for architects to submit their designs. A local architect named Henry Hare won the competition. His design was in a style called Jacobethan, which mixes elements of Elizabethan and Jacobean architecture.
The old 1752 building was taken down in 1893. The construction of the current Oxford Town Hall then began. It was completed four years later, in 1897.
Past Uses of the Town Hall
When it first opened, the new Town Hall was a very busy place. Besides housing the city council, it also had the public library and the city's police station.
During the First World War, the building played a different role. It was turned into a special part of a hospital. From 1916, it focused on helping soldiers who were sick with malaria.
Over time, the other services moved out. In 1936, the Oxford City Police moved to a new police station nearby. The main public library is now located in the Westgate Centre on Queen Street. Today, the building remains a key part of Oxford's government and community life.
