West Bromwich Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Bromwich Town Hall |
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West Bromwich Town Hall
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Italian Gothic style |
| Classification | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 29 September 1987 |
| Reference #: | 1077117 |
| Location | West Bromwich, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°31′14.16″N 1°59′53.15″W / 52.5206000°N 1.9980972°W |
| Construction started | 1874 |
| Completed | 1875 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Alexander & Henman |
| Main contractor | Trow & Sons of Wednesbury |
The West Bromwich Town Hall is an important building in West Bromwich, England. It's like a main office for the town's local government. This building is also a special Grade II listed building. This means it's protected because it's historically important and beautiful.
Contents
History of the Town Hall
The idea for the town hall came from a group called the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners. Their leader was Reuben Farley. They bought the land for the building, which was known as the Lodge Estate.
Building Design and Construction
The building was designed by architects Alexander & Henman from Stockton-on-Tees. They used a style called Italian Gothic architecture. It was built using bricks and stone by a company called Trow & Sons from Wednesbury. Construction happened between 1874 and 1875.
In 1924, some changes were made. A room that was used for reading became a bigger council chamber. A new reading room was also added to the building at that time.
Famous Visitors and Events
Many interesting things have happened at the town hall. The famous American singer and pianist, Jerry Lee Lewis, performed there in 1964. More recently, a group called the People's Orchestra often plays music there.
The town hall used to be the main office for the local government of West Bromwich. This was when West Bromwich was a "county borough," which is a type of local area. But in 1974, a new council called Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was formed. After that, the town hall was no longer the main government building.
What the Town Hall Looks Like
The West Bromwich Town Hall has many cool details. The arches at the entrance have carved heads on them. These carvings show the different months of the year.
Inside the Building
If you walk inside, the hallway around the main hall has special tiles. These tiles were made by Maw & Company. The ceilings, metal work, walls, and pillars are all decorated. The designs were made by the architects themselves. People at the time said the colors and stencil work were amazing. They said it created a "charming effect."
The main tower of the building is about 130 feet (40 meters) tall. A local artist named John Roddis created the beautiful carvings. These carvings also show scenes related to the 12 months of the year.
The Grand Organ
The main hall of the town hall has a very special musical instrument. It's a huge organ, known as the Grand Organ. This organ was a gift from Alexander Brogden, who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wednesbury. He gave it in 1878.
Organ History and Importance
The organ was built by a company called Forster and Andrews from Hull. It was originally made after a big event called the International Exhibition of 1862. This company built only twelve organs for town halls across the country.
In May 1997, the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) gave the organ a special certificate. They said it was very important because of its music and how it was built. It is also listed as a historic organ in the National Pipe Organ Register at Cambridge University. You can find more details about this organ on that register.
