| Code | NA6191 |
| Place Entry | Town Hall/Howard Street/Rotherham/South Yorkshire |
| Notes | (i) Letter dated 1953:
The plans for the Municipal Buildings on the Temperance Hall and Frederick Street site were approved by the Borough Council on 22nd May 1894; discussions on the Municipal Buildings began in November 1892.
The sites first considered were: the corner of Wellgate and Doncaster Gate, the top of High Street including the Shambles (now the Imperial Buildings) and the West Riding Court House.
Later some property at No. 7 Howard Street was purchased for £2,000 and six leasehold houses and shops in Frederick Street were also purchased for £1,100 (confirmed by Council May 1893). This purchase excluded the Effingham Arms.
The plans adopted in October 1893 provided for "all the necessary requirements for the Council, Police, Magisterial Courts, and officials of the Corporation, and, at the same time preserve the Masonic Hall (with improved approaches and accessories) for the use of the Town". The lowest tender for carrying out the scheme was £22,210 and the cost caused some concern.
The Council decided on amended plans for Police Accommodation and Magistrates Courts at a cost of £10,250 after considering the difference in price of brick instead of stone.
Mr. Nicholson was an official at that time and states that the Council Chamber was always where it now is. The Town Clerk's office was in the present Mayor's parlour and the Borough Accountant's office was the room now occupied by the Town Hall Superintendant. There was no passage through to the Committee rooms; this way was broken through in the new scheme. The hall and staircase were as they are at present, except that upstairs there was now way through to the Assembly Rooms. The Borough Surveyor's and Waterwork's Engineers offices were in rooms now forming part of the Police Court, just around the corner.
The offices of the North Central Wagon Company were between the Council Office entrance and the corner now occupied by the Health Service Bureau. these offices were later taken over and used as Rating and Gas Offices. Above these offices was the Free Library (moved to Main Street in 1887) and the Borough Rate Collector also had an office on this floor.
______________________________________________________________________
(ii)
Town Hall Buildings, Howard Street
According to the Ordnance Survey of 1851, the site was part of "College Fields", and contained no buildings, but the three main buildings which make up the block seem to have been erected by the end of 1853.
The main building, the Rotherham and Masbrough Literary and Mechanics Institute was built in 1853, near to the Savings Bank, which was opened 13 November 1851. The final building was originally a chapel (1853) until the Zion Chapel was opened in Effingham Street (approximately near the W H Smith and Advertiser Site) in 1860. It became a Music Hall but was a Temperance Hall by 1876. As far as I can see, the Savings Bank building seems to have housed the Corporation Offices, the North Central Wagon Co., and the office of the Rotherham Board of Guardians and the office of the Rural Sanitary Authority, John Barras being actuary to the Savings Bank and clerk or secretary to the North Central, Guardians and Rural Sanitary Authority (1881)
________________________________________________________________________
(iii)
From Rotherham Year Book 1905
The Town Hall, (Howard Street) was enlarged in 1896 by the addition of the Mechanics and Temperance Halls adjoining the building comprises of offices of the Town Clerk, Borough Accountant, Borough Surveyor and Water Works. The offices of the Borough Police are in Frederick Street, forming ample accommodation for the various departments of the Corporation and present a large and imposing pile. The Town Hall Assembly Rooms are convenient in every way for concerts and public functions.
The Town Hall Assembly Rooms adjoining the Science and Art Schools in Effingham Street, is the old Mechanics Institute which was purchased by the Corporation and has undergone reconstruction. The Interior comprises of Large Hall with balcony capable of seating 800, ante rooms, Supper rooms and Kitchen, the whole being fitted with electric light ...
There is an illustration of the Town Hall in the Illustration section of the Year book. |
| Place Name | Town Hall |
| Area1 | Howard Street |
| Area3 | Rotherham |
| Area4 | South Yorkshire |
| Notes | (i) Letter dated 1953:
The plans for the Municipal Buildings on the Temperance Hall and Frederick Street site were approved by the Borough Council on 22nd May 1894; discussions on the Municipal Buildings began in November 1892.
The sites first considered were: the corner of Wellgate and Doncaster Gate, the top of High Street including the Shambles (now the Imperial Buildings) and the West Riding Court House.
Later some property at No. 7 Howard Street was purchased for £2,000 and six leasehold houses and shops in Frederick Street were also purchased for £1,100 (confirmed by Council May 1893). This purchase excluded the Effingham Arms.
The plans adopted in October 1893 provided for "all the necessary requirements for the Council, Police, Magisterial Courts, and officials of the Corporation, and, at the same time preserve the Masonic Hall (with improved approaches and accessories) for the use of the Town". The lowest tender for carrying out the scheme was £22,210 and the cost caused some concern.
The Council decided on amended plans for Police Accommodation and Magistrates Courts at a cost of £10,250 after considering the difference in price of brick instead of stone.
Mr. Nicholson was an official at that time and states that the Council Chamber was always where it now is. The Town Clerk's office was in the present Mayor's parlour and the Borough Accountant's office was the room now occupied by the Town Hall Superintendant. There was no passage through to the Committee rooms; this way was broken through in the new scheme. The hall and staircase were as they are at present, except that upstairs there was now way through to the Assembly Rooms. The Borough Surveyor's and Waterwork's Engineers offices were in rooms now forming part of the Police Court, just around the corner.
The offices of the North Central Wagon Company were between the Council Office entrance and the corner now occupied by the Health Service Bureau. these offices were later taken over and used as Rating and Gas Offices. Above these offices was the Free Library (moved to Main Street in 1887) and the Borough Rate Collector also had an office on this floor.
______________________________________________________________________
(ii)
Town Hall Buildings, Howard Street
According to the Ordnance Survey of 1851, the site was part of "College Fields", and contained no buildings, but the three main buildings which make up the block seem to have been erected by the end of 1853.
The main building, the Rotherham and Masbrough Literary and Mechanics Institute was built in 1853, near to the Savings Bank, which was opened 13 November 1851. The final building was originally a chapel (1853) until the Zion Chapel was opened in Effingham Street (approximately near the W H Smith and Advertiser Site) in 1860. It became a Music Hall but was a Temperance Hall by 1876. As far as I can see, the Savings Bank building seems to have housed the Corporation Offices, the North Central Wagon Co., and the office of the Rotherham Board of Guardians and the office of the Rural Sanitary Authority, John Barras being actuary to the Savings Bank and clerk or secretary to the North Central, Guardians and Rural Sanitary Authority (1881)
________________________________________________________________________
(iii)
From Rotherham Year Book 1905
The Town Hall, (Howard Street) was enlarged in 1896 by the addition of the Mechanics and Temperance Halls adjoining the building comprises of offices of the Town Clerk, Borough Accountant, Borough Surveyor and Water Works. The offices of the Borough Police are in Frederick Street, forming ample accommodation for the various departments of the Corporation and present a large and imposing pile. The Town Hall Assembly Rooms are convenient in every way for concerts and public functions.
The Town Hall Assembly Rooms adjoining the Science and Art Schools in Effingham Street, is the old Mechanics Institute which was purchased by the Corporation and has undergone reconstruction. The Interior comprises of Large Hall with balcony capable of seating 800, ante rooms, Supper rooms and Kitchen, the whole being fitted with electric light ...
There is an illustration of the Town Hall in the Illustration section of the Year book. |
| Source | (i)Letter dated 24th August 1953 to Councillor Wright from Boardman (Chief Librarian). (ii) &(iii) Information Leaflets |