The Old Town Hall (former Magistrates Court) - High Street, Gravesend, Kent, UK
N 51° 26.609 E 000° 22.164
31U E 317191 N 5702426
The Old Town Hall is a magnificent looking building that stands on the east side of the High Street in Gravesend. The Georgian mansion was built as the county gaol and magistrates court. It is now used for functions, such as weddings.
Waymark Code: WMH22J
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/09/2013
Views: 2
The inscription, above the columns at the front of the building, reads:
Rebuilt A.D. 1836 in the Mayoralities of M. Troughton and R. Oakes Esqrs.
A.H. Wilds Archt.
The Old Town Hall's website tells us:
"Gravesend's first Town Hall was built in the High Street in 1573. Designed by C. Sloane (who also designed St. George's Church) the Old Town Hall as we know it today was erected in 1764. In 1836, the old front was removed and the present one, built in sandstone ashlar, was substituted by Amon Henry Wilds. After serving time as the County Gaol and a Police Station, the building continued to fulfill its public destiny as a Magistrates' Court until the new Civic Centre was completed in the late 1990's.
The Gravesend Old Town Hall has always had a close association with its neighbour the Market Hall (built abutting the rear of the main building next to what is now known as Market Square). A market was first established in 1268 in Gravesend by a grant from Henry III to his faithful servant Robert de la Parrock of Parrock Manor. In 1366, a second charter granted by Edward III established a market for the Men of the Town independentt of the manor and the day was changed to Thursday. It was this charter that gave the town its coat of arms - a boat with a mast rowed by hooded rowers and steered by a porcupine. Gravesend's coat of arms is depicted in a mosaic placed on the wall of the Gravesend Old Town Hall in 1991. The coat of arms was also believed to be the inspiration for Edward Lear's poem 'The Owl and the Pussycat' based on the fact that Lear's father was a resident of Gravesend for many years and the poet himself a frequent visitor. By 1568 a new charter had been issued which changed the day of the market to Wednesday and stipulated a 3 days fair to be held in January each year.
Five years after the final charter was granted, the first Town Hall was built, with the market occupying the ground floor and open spaces behind the new civic building. However, the close proximity of the civic offices to the market did not please the Mayor and Councillors who were said to use oranges placed over their noses to mask the unpleasant odour of fish, vegetables and prisoners held in a 'cage' awaiting trial.
After a new building was erected in 1836 to house the thriving market, The Old Town Hall also received a new facade designed by Amon Henry Wilds which it is said was inspired by the Temple of Minerva in Athens featuring ornate 8 metre high Doric Columns supporting a Grecian Portico.
In its former life as a Magistrates Court and County Gaol, Gravesend Old Town Hall bore witness to many 'Dickensian' court room dramas, one of which involved the trial of William Henry Piggott who was arrested in Graveend under suspicion of being 'Jack the Ripper', perpetrator of the infamous Whitechapel Murders. Piggot was eventually aquitted due to lack of evidence before being diagnosed as suffering from delirium tremens and finally being committed to an asylum."
The building is Grade II* listed with the entry at the English Heritage website telling us:
"This building was erected in 1836 on the site of the earlier Town Hall designed by C Sloane in 1764. It cost £3,000 and was built by the Brighton Architect, Amon Henry Wilds, in imitation of the Parthenon at Athens. Sandstone ashlar. The front has a massive tetrastyle portico of fluted Doric columns with triglyph frieze and small shields of the Arms of Gravesend Borough in the metopes. Pediment above, originally surmounted by the figures of Minerva, Justice and Truth but these were removed in 1949. 3 windows beneath the portico at 1st floor level. On the ground floor 1 window and a wide entrance to an open passage which leads to the Market behind the Town Hall. Recessed portion on each side of the portico containing 1 triple window on ground and 1st floors with pilasters between the lights. The south ground floor window is now blocked. Triglyph frieze and parapet above these flanking portions. Glazing bars intact. Over the portico is the inscription: - "Rebuilt 1836 in the Mayoralties of M Troughton and R Oakes Esquires. A H Wilds Architect", and over the entrance to the passage:- Re-constructed during the Mayoralty of George H Edmonds Esq 1882-3". The inside was further altered in 1898."