Town Hall Talk: The Changing Role of Town Halls In the Community

Battersea Arts Centre Town Hall Talks: The Changing Role of Town Halls in the Community- Wednesday 25th November

by Councillor Tony Belton & Dr Michael Short, Senior Fellow in Planning at UCL

Battersea Town Hall c.1900 and the Shakespeare Theatre

The North side of Lavender Hill, 1897 - 1956

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Great Northern Town Halls

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Leek Town Hall was built in 1878. It incorporated the county court and a concert hall. It was demolished in 1988 after a rationalisation of local government

It is now a municipal car park, visible behind the wall in middle right!

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We nearly lose the Town Hall 1970 The Conservative Council decides to sell the Town Hall

2/12/70

Town Hall listed as a building “of special architectural or historic interest�

15/12/70 Council withdraws T Hall from sale

15/5/71

New Labour Council elected with very different politics and style

17/11/71 Petitions submitted to Council demanding the Town Hall be saved

11/4/72

Martin Linton suggests the Town Hall should be an Arts Centre

23/2/74

Town Hall re-opened as the Council run Battersea Arts Centre

Bertrand Russell gave a talk “Why I Am Not a Christian� on March 6, 1927 at Battersea Town Hall, under the auspices of the South London Branch of the National Secular Society

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1985 flyer for boxing at Battersea Town Hall

For further information, please contact:

Tony Belton tonybelton@btconnect.com or see tonybelton.wordpress.com and Michael Short