Description

WEYMOUTH

SY6778NE ST EDMUND STREET
873-1/23/282 (South side)
12/12/53 Guildhall, with attached rear
boundary wall
(Formerly Listed as:
ST EDMUND STREET
(South side)
Guildhall)

GV II*

Guildhall. 1836-7, with late C20 modifications. By Talbot Bury
(RCHME). Portland stone ashlar, rear and party walls rendered,
slate roof. A formal classical statement, with tall projecting
portico carried on an open arcaded ground storey carried
across the pavement. A grand entrance hall with staircase is
flanked by cells to the left and offices to the right; on this
side, in Maiden Street was formerly an open arcaded walk, now
enclosed. The upper floor has a full-width main chamber, with
service rooms behind.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 5 bay front and 3 bay return. The
principal front is in 1:3:1 windows; the tetrastyle Ionic
portico with pediment covers three 15-pane sashes in moulded
architraves, the centre light with cornice on scrolled
consoles, and the outer bays have tripartite 5:15:5-pane
sashes with stone pilaster mullions and entablature set
between main pilasters and responds to the portico, and on a
sill band with ovolo mould, which continues as a base to the
portico columns.
Ground floor is channelled, with voussoirs, and has a 9-pane
arched sash with radial head in a plat surround and with
panelled apron, flanking 3 arched openings, the central one
elliptical over a pair of 3-panel doors; the side openings
have bold cast-iron gates to small lobbies. That to the left
has a 4-pane flush door under 4-pane transom light, on 4 stone
steps, and to the right, where the lobby soffit has been
lowered, a similar door.
The 3 centre bays are under the bold projecting portico,
forming a porte-cochere, with 3 front openings and single end
ones, all arched. This front has a high plain plinth, a full
entablature, and 4 square piers with moulded caps at the
blocking-course level. The party wall to the left is plain,
rendered.
The front to Maiden Street is detailed as the main facade,
with plain above channelled ashlar on a plain plinth. The
first floor is in 5 bays divided by full-height pilasters and

end responds, with 3 deep 15-pane sashes to pilasters and
inset entablature, on a sill band, and blank end bays. Ground
floor has 3 arched sashes (the centre one blind) and 2 high
arched openings with heavy cast-iron gates backed by plate
glass; these formerly gave to the internal open passageway.
Above the entablature are 6 piers with cappings, but no
connecting blocking course.
The rear wall has 3 large sashes, the centre one without
glazing bars, and a parallel range of lower 2-storey work with
2 arched sashes, corner pilasters, cornice and blocking
course.
INTERIOR: the entrance doors, in a deep chamfered plain stone
surround internally, have have heavy strap hinges, the upper
ones carried around the elliptical top rails, and open to 4
stone steps leading to a square hall with stone floor. To left
and right, through arched doorways with cast-iron gates, are
vaulted chambers off an inner corridor, with 4-panel flush
doors under fanlights.
The end of the hall has 3 lofty arches over the wide stone
staircase, which divides from a landing to flights with
risers. The cast-iron balustrades have a heavy mahogany
wreathed handrail. At the landing is a deep niche containing a
white marble statue, signed 'THEAKSTON, Sculp: 1821' of Samuel
Weston '... four times Mayor ... died 1817 ...', and paid for
by public subscription. The central of 3 landing sashes
carries an engraved panel with the Weymouth Arms. Doors
generally are 4-panelled.
The upper floor formerly had 2 main spaces, a Court Room and a
Council Chamber; this is now in one running across the front,
with the centre section marked by square painted pilasters and
responds carrying deep beams, to a simple compartmental
ceiling, with egg-and-dart cornice below a deep plain frieze
to a C19 moulded ceiling cornice. The centre section has a
raised and recessed platform backed by panelling, with a
panelled front balustrade.
At either end of this space are Royal Arms; at the E end to
Queen Victoria, in carved wood, of 1842, and at the W end a
fine painted and carved Arms of James I, supported by gilded
figures representing Peace and Plenty. George I Arms on
canvas, painted and possibly given by James Thornhill in 1721
(the year of his election as MP (RCHME).
A suitably dignified building, the Guildhall cannot be fully
appreciated as it faces a narrow street. It is on the site of
a former Melcombe Regis Town Hall. Behind the building, at the
far end of the rear wall is a projecting section of high
rubble wall, which could possibly date from this earlier
building.
(RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 338).

Listing NGR: SY6793878757

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Weymouth Guildhall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17554117

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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