2012

TQ2550 : The Old Town Hall

taken 12 years ago, near to Reigate, Surrey, England

This is 1 of 15 images, with title The Old Town Hall in this square
The Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall
This grade II* listed building was built in around 1728 as a replacement market hall for a similar building that once stood near West Street. For listing particulars see LinkExternal link.

The cupola and clock were added in 1811 having been removed from the recently demolished nearby town prison ("the cage" - a new prison cage was built in what is now Cage Yard - see TQ2550 : The Cage). In 1853, a chimney was added in each corner during alterations carried out by Lord Somers (who owned much of Reigate at the time) - they were removed in the 1980s, being out of keeping with the remainder of the building. It served as the town hall from 1863 to 1901, when the role transferred to the new municipal buildings in Castlefield Road (see TQ2550 : Reigate Town Hall), after which it gained the name "Old Town Hall" by which it is now generally known. The building was used for petty court sessions from 1876, magistrates sitting there into the 1880s.

It was owned by the local council from 1922, having been donated by local benefactor Randal Vogan, who had purchased it the previous year in the "Great sale of Reigate", in which much of the town was sold to individuals following the death of Lady Henry Somerset of Reigate Priory. (Randal Vogan had done the same with Park Hill, resulting in part of the present day Priory Park.) Use of the Old Town Hall included a meeting room and art and photographic exhibitions. However, following much debate over a longer term use to justify restoration, in 2008 it became a Caffè Nero coffee shop.

Here it is seen the Saturday before St George's Day, bedecked with St George's flags.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Ian Capper and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Business, Retail, Services City, Town centre Place: Reigate other tags: St Georges Day Old Town Hall Grade II(star) Listed Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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Grid Square
TQ2550, 1183 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Ian Capper   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Saturday, 21 April, 2012   (more nearby)
Submitted
Monday, 23 April, 2012
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 253 502 [100m precision]
WGS84: 51:14.2590N 0:12.3711W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 253 502
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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