| Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Town hall |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Gothic Revival |
| Location | Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria England |
| Address | Duke Street BARROW-IN-FURNESS LA14 2LD |
| Current tenants | Barrow Borough Council |
| Construction started | 1882 |
| Completed | 1886 |
| Height | 50 metres (164 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Diameter | 72 metres (236 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Barrow Borough Council |
| Architect | William Henry Lynn |
| Architecture firm | Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon |
| Awards and prizes | Grade II* listed building |
Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall is a Victorian-era, neo-gothic municipal building in Barrow-in-Furness, England.[1] The building serves as the base of Barrow Borough Council and houses a number of local government departments. The building was constructed in a four year period entirely from local sandstone (from Hawcoat to be precise). At 50 metres (164 ft) tall, it is the second tallest building in Barrow after Devonshire Dock Hall.
The town hall was officially opened on July 14, 1887 by Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire to coincide with Queen Victoria's Golden Jubliee.[1] Today alongside government use, the town hall also caters for weddings and receptions.
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In the mid 19th century, Barrow was little more than a small fishing village. However after the discovery of iron ore in local mountains and the establishment of a port in the town, the local population skyrocketed to over 40,000 in the space of 20 years. In 1877 numerous architects were invited to submit proposals for a large civic building in Barrow which would represent the dramatic growth and current stature of the town.[1] Irish-born architect, William Henry Lynn had the winning design that began construction in 1882. Financial constraints alongside changes to the design were the reason that construction didn't commence immediately after selection of the design. In 1885 the building was almost complete, however cracks were found in areas of the building and the clock tower had to be completely knocked down and rebuilt. This was most likely the result of the contractors trying to cut costs by using sub-standard stone.[1] Despite these initial troubles, the town hall was finally complete in 1886 and the exterior of the building has remained more or less the same to this day. The town hall's main plaza is to the exterior of the building, which has led to many incorrectly believing that the building was built 'back to front'.[1]
The ground floor entrance hall consists of a reception and information desk alongside photos of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip who visited the town hall in 1956. There is also a plaque commemorating the centenary of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness which was unveiled in 1967 by Princess Margaret[1] The largest room within the town hall is the Queen's Hall which is located on the first floor and is dominated by stained glass windows which bear the images of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, Lord Frederick Cavendish and Lord Edward Cavendish. A number of other panels have since been added to windows in the Queen's Hall that feature certain aspects of Barrow's shipbuilding and steelworks industries.[1] Also on the first floor are the Council Chambers, the former Press and Public Galleries, the Drawing Room, the Ante Room and a large public Banquet Hall.[1]