Description

The following buildings shall be added:-
BLACKBURN
4/10019 BLAKEY MOOR
SD6828SW
796- /4/10019 (North side)
King George's Hall
GV II

Public halls, now halls and cafe. 1913-21, by Brigg, Wolstenholme and Thornley, slightly
altered. Sandstone ashlar, slate roof (concealed by parapet). Large rectangular plan on
north-south axis, on corner site at junction of Northgate with Blakey Moor. Classical style.
Three storeys and attic, 1:3:1 bays, symmetrical, with cavetto corners, the ground floor
forming a rustic and the two principal floors designed as a giant order; and the 3-bay centre
with a set-in loggia at ground floor and a set-in colonnade of 4 pairs of Corinthian columns
above; with a frieze and modillioned cornice carried round the whole, parapets to the outer
bays, and a blocking course to the centre (behind which is a taller parapet to the attic storey).
The ground floor has a plinth, boldly modelled channelled rustication, an arcade of 3
round-headed arches to the centre with run-out voussoirs, in each outer bay a round-headed
blank arch with cavetto reveal containing a square-headed doorway with a moulded
architrave and cornice, and a moulded cornice carried round. On the upper floors the centre
has 3 tall windows with corniced architraves, and bulls-eye windows above these with
carved surrounds, while the outer bays each have broad panelled giant pilasters framing a
window in an architrave of Tuscan semi-columns with triglyph entablature and mutule
cornice surmounted by a large aedicule with figure supporters emblematic of war (to the
right) and peace (to the left). The right-hand return facade (to Northgate), is a symmetrical
3:5:3 window composition: the centre has 3 large round-headed arches like those at the
front, flanked by segmental-headed windows with triple keystones, and at 1st floor 3 tall
windows with Tuscan architraves surmounted by putti supporting bulls-eye windows,
flanked by smaller windows with simpler architraves; the outer bays, breaking forwards
slightly, have segmental-headed windows set low at ground floor, with triple keystones, and
square windows above these, while the upper floors have giant Corinthian semi-columns
distyle in antis framing tall corniced windows at 1st floor and square windows above (but
that at the right-hand end now has a glazed link-bridge entering the centre window at 1st
floor). All these windows have margin panes. INTERIOR: very large main hall at 1st floor,
almost square, with 3-sided balcony projected from side aisles formed by large piers with
panelled pilasters and egg-and-dart cornices, and carried round south end; continuous
dentilled cornice to side walls, coving to segmental-arched ceiling; very large suspended
3-stage cylindrical glass lamps; stage at north end with fine full-width oak organ case in
Wren style presented by two aldermen in memory of their sons and other Blackburn sons
fallen of the World War 1914-18. Hall on lower floor recently altered by insertion of cafe
at balcony level. Forms group with Police Station and Magistrates Courts linked to north
end of Northgate facade (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SD6804228198

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• King George's Hall at Wikipedia
• King George's Hall official website
• Wikidata Q26517491

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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