St Albans Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Albans Town Hall |
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St Albans Town Hall in 2008
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| Location | St Peter's Street, St Albans |
| Built | 1826 |
| Architect | George Smith |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Court house (town hall) | |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1296135 |
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The St Albans Town Hall, also known as the Old Town Hall, is a historic building in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Built in the 1800s, it used to be a place for local government and court hearings. Today, this important building is home to the St Albans Museum. It's recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a very special historical site.
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History of the Town Hall
The current Town Hall was built to replace an older building called the Moot Hall. The Moot Hall, completed in 1570, was getting old and falling apart. Leaders in St Albans decided they needed a new, modern building.
They chose a spot on St Peter's Street. The new building would serve two main purposes. It would be a town hall for local government and a courtroom for legal matters. The famous architect George Smith designed the building. He used the neoclassical style, which was popular at the time. The building was finished in 1826.
Courts and Justice in St Albans
For many years, the St Albans Town Hall was an important place for justice. St Albans had its own special courts, called "quarter sessions." These courts handled local legal cases.
In 1851, a special group called the Bribery Commission met here. They investigated problems with voting in the area. They found that some people had received money for their votes. Because of these unfair practices, St Albans temporarily lost its right to have a representative in Parliament.
Over time, the way courts worked changed. In 1972, new types of court hearings took over. The Town Hall stopped being a place for court cases in 1992. All court hearings moved to a new courthouse nearby.
The Town Hall and Local Government
The Town Hall was also the main office for the St Albans City Council. This council is in charge of running the city. It served as their headquarters for the first half of the 20th century.
Eventually, the City Council needed more space. They moved to a new building in 1966. Later, they moved again to an even newer Civic Centre in 1989.
After the council moved out, the Town Hall was empty for a while. But then, it got a big makeover! Millions of pounds were spent to turn it into a museum. The St Albans Museum moved into the Town Hall in June 2018. Now, visitors can explore the city's history inside this beautiful old building.
Design of the Building
The St Albans Town Hall has a grand and balanced design. The front of the building faces Market Square. It has three main sections. The middle section has a raised platform with three windows. Above these windows are tall, impressive columns. These columns support a large triangular top part, called a pediment.
Inside, the building has several important rooms. There's a large assembly hall, which is also used as a ballroom for events. The old courtroom is also still there. It has an interesting eight-sided shape and is covered with wood panels.
See also
