Description

SE2627NW LS27 QUEEN STREET
MORLEY (west side)

8/36 The Town Hall
12.3.80

GV I

Town hall. 1892-5 by G. A. Fox. Sandstone ashlar, lead roof. Classical style
with Baroque domed tower. 2 storeys and basement. 13-bay symmetrical facade
(5:3:5). Rusticated basement with channelled stone supports a giant Composite
order with freestanding columns in antis except at corners which break forward
with pilasters. Centre of 3 wider bays breaks forward to form a Composite
hexastyle portico with full entablature; wide flight of steps leads to main door
with wrought-iron gates and overdoor with Venetian window above; deeply-moulded
pediment, the tympanum with sculpture of justice seeking advice from the good
Queen, surrounded by figures of Industries and Useful Arts. Flanking balustraded
parapets. 3-stage central tower: rusticated base, main bell stage with round-
arched openings with balcony under, balustraded parapet with paired urns to corners
and short domed pinnacles, set-back pedimented clock stage supporting a dome with
tiny upper dome on drum above. Left-hand return of 5:4:5 bays (ABC); bays A and C
set forward. Tall arched windows to upper floors with keystones and impost band
articulated by Composite pilasters. Bay C has Greek key band and doorway with
consoles and cornice. Balustraded parapet. Right-hand return of 5:5:4 bays left-hand
bay set forward with composite columns, 3 tall first floor windows, rose medallion, Greek
key bands and doorway with consoles and cornice.
Interior: main entrance hall has grand stone staircase with wrought-iron balustrade and
red marble columns, stained glass windows representing the professions; also an ornamental
plaster ceiling. This leads to several large and well-finished rooms, with decorated plaster
ceilings, some coved; all having raised borders in varying patterns with different decora-
tive motifs. Chief of these rooms, the Alexandra Concert Hall with gallery round 3 sides,
stone architraves and more stained glass windows. The Council chamber, mayor's parlour and
banqueting suite have oak wainscoted panelling and large carved fireplaces, good door
and window woodwork. The magistrates' court, also wainscoted, is plainer but
relieved by a larger rear pyramidal rooflight.

A fine although late C19 town hall by a local architect incorporating several
features from other earlier West Riding town halls. Prominent within the town,
the tower being a notable landmark. 2

Listing NGR: SE2633527783

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Morley Town Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q6912560

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas