Maidstone Town Hall - 1763 - Middle Row, Maidstone, UK - Dated Architectural Structures Multifarious on Waymarking.com

Set in the pavement, outside the entrance to the building, is a circular stone slab that is inscribed:

Maidstone
1763
Town Hall

Maidstone Town Hall is Grade II* listed with the entry at the Historic England website telling us:

Built 1762-3. The ground floor was originally used as a market, then converted into the police court. 2 storeys. 7 windows, the easternmost and westernmost ones slightly set back. Ground floor Portland ashlar above red brick with stone dressings. Stone modillion cornice and brick parapet with pediment, above the 3 easternmost windows of the non-recessed portion. Cupola of 8 Ionic columns supporting a small dome surmounted by a gilded ball and weather vane. 1st floor windows in stone architrave surrounds with pediments over, alternately triangular and curved. Large round-headed windows on the ground floor flanked by pilasters, with a stringcourse above the ground floor. 2 round-headed doorways with large semi-circular fanlights and doors of 6 moulded panels. The east end of the building forms a canted bay of 3 windows.

The Council Chamber contains a fine Rococo painted ceiling and drops of musical instruments on the wall by Galli and Cotti. 2 C18 pedimented overmantels, and 6 fielded panelled doors.

There are also 2 large cells with graffiti carved by the prisoners. This was used as a prison before the prison along Boxley Road was built and incorporates timbers from an earlier timber-framed building on the site.

The Visit Maidstone website tells us about the Town Hall:

Maidstone Town Hall is a fine Georgian building originally dated 1763 used as the Magistrate's Courts. Above the richly decorated council chamber is the old prison cell where you can still see graffiti carved by prisoners awaiting deportation.

To see inside the Town Hall, book a Town Hall tour that take place on the 1st Saturday of the month.

Year built or dedicated as indicated on the structure or plaque: 1763 Full Inscription (unless noted above): Please refer to the detailed description Website (if available): [Web Link]

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