County Hall (Surrey)

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County Hall is the main government building for the County of Surrey in England. It was opened 13 November 1893, and is located in Kingston upon Thames.

Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 Trivia 4 References

[edit] History

County hall was designed by Charles Henry Howell, County Surveyor and partner in Howell and Brooks. It was built by the firm Higgs and Hill. It was build between 1891 and 1893. It was opened on 13 November 1893, with bands entertaining invited guests.

The building was extended in 1930 (opened by the Duke of Gloucester) and again in 1938, the Ashcombe Block, creating a quadrangle behind the entrance. The Ashcombe block was destroyed by a flying bomb in July 1944, and rebuilt in 1953. The building was further extended in 1963 and 1982, completing a second quadrangle.

[edit] Today

County Hall remains an imposing landmark in Kingston. It contains an imposing clock tower entrance, sculptures, plaques of Surrey MP's and Lord Sheriffs, and the grand Council Chamber. It is located on Penrhyn Road, named in honour of the first Chairman of the County Council.

[edit] Trivia

• County Hall since 1965, due to local government reorganisation, has no been within the adminstrative, non-metropolitan or ceremonial county of Surrey but within the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London.

[edit] References

County material, published by Chairman's office from County Archivist Dr David Robinson