PAST

From medieval times until the 1899 London Government Act, the affairs of the Parish of Shoreditch were managed by the Vestry of the Parish, elected by its freeholders. It was as the new Vestry Hall that the building now known as Shoreditch Town Hall was designed.

The Vestry looked after the parish’s charities, the relief of the poor and indigent, paving and cleaning the roads, the maintenance of law and order, cleansing, burying the dead, and keeping records for births, deaths and marriages. It funded these activities largely from a rate levied on householders and received no income from central government.

Shoreditch Vestry commissioned a new Hall to include a debating chamber and a public assembly hall. Opened in 1866, it was designed by Caesar Augustus Long, active as an architect in Hackney and later in Bishopsgate between 1861 – 1871.

The tall Baroque elevation to Old Street was in Portland stone and it must have created a powerful impression alongside the other buildings then in Old Street, most of which were two or three storey brick buildings.

Dating from this period is the Council Chamber which, with its high-coved ceiling and doric columns round the walls, is perhaps the finest interior in the building. Council meetings were held here, but the seating for meetings was removed many years ago.

In 1902 the Town Hall underwent major expansion to the designs of William Hunt (1855-1943). Hunt was in practice with his son Edward and built many houses for prosperous Edwardian clients in the West End of London, as well as Tooting Library and, in the 1930s, Wandsworth Town Hall. Hunt Snr. was a local Councillor and Mayor of Wandsworth during the year that his Shoreditch Town Hall extension was opened.

The new extension included an enlarged Assembly Hall, the Committee Rooms at the West side of the building, and the tower, featuring the statue of 'Progress'. In 1904, a major fire destroyed much of the Assembly Hall, which was re-built and re-opened in 1907. This hall, with its distinctive marble panelling, is virtually unchanged today.

In 1938 Shoreditch Town Hall was extended at the rear to the designs of the Borough Surveyor. This Annexe is in red brick and has lost its distinctive windows, but retains a panelled Committee Room and some 1930s fittings. It has now been sold off as offices.

In 1965, local government reorganisation led to the merging of the separate boroughs of Shoreditch, Stoke Newington and Hackney into the single borough of Hackney. The municipal centre moved to Hackney Town Hall, and although council offices remained at Shoreditch Town Hall for another 30 years, the building gradually fell into a state of disrepair. It was placed on the ’At Risk‘ register in 1996.

• PRESENT

  The first phase of works has been carried out with the help of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund and Bridge House Estates Trust.

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• FUTURE

  Having completed the first phase of works, the Trust is now planning to establish Shoreditch Town Hall as a vibrant community hub.

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