File:Holborn Town Hall - High Holborn, Holborn (20878657508).jpg

On High Holborn in Holborn (within what is now part of the London Borough of Camden).

After leaving the British Museum we were trying to get back to a tube station.

Saw signs for Tottenham Court Road, but ended up going to Holborn Underground Station instead (I was thinking of going to that one anyway).

At least there was no more rain after we left the museum!

Holborn Town Hall

Grade II listed.

<a href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-478254-holborn-town-hall-and-library-greater-lo#.VeX12fSC8Xw" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Holborn Town Hall and Library, Camden</a>

   CAMDEN

   TQ3081SW HIGH HOLBORN
   798-1/105/840 (South side)
   15/01/73 Holborn Town Hall and Library

   GV II

   Town hall and library, now municipal offices. Library
   (formerly St Giles's Library), 1894 by W Rushworth (eastern
   wing); town hall, 1906-8 by Hall and Warwick (centre and
   western wing). Ancaster and Portland stone faced. Steeply
   pitched slated roof with pedimented dormers and pilastered
   Dutch gables terminating in segmental pediments to end bays.
   STYLE: the library with early French Renaissance detail, the
   town hall in similar style but Baroque details.
   EXTERIOR: 4 storeys, basements and attics. Both buildings form
   a symmetrical facade of 9 windows. End bays slightly
   projecting. Eastern wing with entrance to former library of
   elliptical arch flanked by Corinthian pilasters supporting an
   entablature; enriched double doors. Former vehicle entrance to
   left in similar style with wrought-iron gate by the Bromsgrove
   Guild of Applied Art. Central 3-light oriel through 1st and
   2nd floors. At 1st floor level a band of Renaissance
   enrichment covering the oriel apron and having flanking oculi.
   Upper floors pilastered, the 1st and 2nd floors with bands,
   3rd floor with diapers. Western wing has round-arched entrance
   to former town hall with moulded head and keystone flanked by
   attached columns supporting an open segmental pediment with
   carved coat of arms in tympanum with festoon and putti heads.
   Central 3-light oriel through 1st and 2nd floors. A band of
   similar enrichment at 1st floor level covering the oriel
   apron. 3rd floor windows round-arched with moulded heads and
   keystones. Central bays have round-arched windows at ground
   floor level; 1st and 2nd floor, square-headed separated by
   pilasters, the 1st floor with a wrought-iron balcony by the
   Bromsgrove Guild; 3rd floor, 3 oculi linked by festoons. Most
   windows transom and mullion.
   INTERIOR: former town hall has large circular hall running up
   through each floor and adjoining the main stair and lift. At
   ground floor level main hall with floor of marble in a compass
   design and arcade of Doric half columns supporting an
   entablature under a shallow dome; oak double doors, with oculi
   and brass plates incorporating a coat of arms, in Baroque
   frames; 3 stained glass First and Second World War memorial
   windows; original brass pendant light. Open well main stair of
   artificial stone and granolithic paving with marble dado.
   Original wrought-iron lift enclosure, in well of stair, by the Bromsgrove Guild. Corridors mostly vaulted with granolithic
   paving and oak doors. Interiors of note are: the rear 1st
   floor Council Chamber of square plan surmounted by a central
   dome with small cupola light. Walls panelled in Austrian oak
   with Ionic pilasters and columns supporting an enriched
   cornice. Windows of small, patterned, leaded panes. Original
   brass pendant light. Beneath, on the ground floor, the former
   Court Room, panelled and enriched in Baroque style.

   Listing NGR: TQ3036381452

This text is a legacy record and has not been updated since the building was originally listed. Details of the building may have changed in the intervening time. You should not rely on this listing as an accurate description of the building.

Source: English Heritage