Altrincham Town Hall, Market Street, Altrincham

Altrincham Urban District Council was formed in 1894. Following an architectural competition in 1898 Hindle and Davenport were awarded the commission to build a new Town Hall but by November of that year Herbert Davenport’s involvement in the project had ceased. The Town Hall was built in 1900-1901 in Jacobean style with Dutch gables. Until 1962 the Fire and Ambulance Station and a public mortuary were at the rear. The chairs are in oak and are dated 1901. In 1930 the building was extended to the left. Hindle had prepared plans for this shortly before his death in 1928 and these were implemented by F W Brazier. The whole building was refurbished in 2005-2006.. The stone palings in front possibly came from a farm in Greenwood Street, demolished to build the Altrincham Working Men's Conservative Club in 1882.

TOWN HALL, ALTRINCHAM - Altrincham Town Hall, erected at a cost of £6,000, was opened on the 4th inst. The town hall was built from the designs of Mr. Charles Hindle (Manchester and Eccles), in the Jacobean style. [Builder 23 November 1901 page 469]

ALTRINCHAM - The new Town Hall, in Market street, erected in 1900-1 at a cost of £6,500, is a structure of brick with stone mullioned windows and dressings, in the Jacobean style, from designs by Messrs. Hindle and Davenport, architects, and contains a lofty and spacious Council chamber, lighted on three sides by windows displaying the arms of the ancient lords of Chester and of leading Cheshire families, and providing room as well for the public and for reporters; connected with this apartment are retiring and waiting rooms, and a balcony for use on public occasions; the remainder of the building comprises offices for the overseer, rate collector, clerk, surveyor and inspector, and in the rear is an open courtyard, with a mortuary and fire station, the latter housing a new steam fire engine, three other engines, fire escapes and other apparatus. [Slater 1903 Suburban Directory]

Reference        Manchester Guardian Saturday 29 October 1898 Page 4 (Contracts)
Reference        Manchester Guardian Tuesday 1 November 1898 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference        Builder 5 November 1898 Page 418 – contracts
Reference        Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser 8 November 1901 page 4
Reference        Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 5 November 1901 page 6
Reference        Builder 23 November 1901 page 469
Reference        Slater 1903 Suburban Directory

See also        Hindle and Davenport Municipal Offices, (Town Hall), Altrincham (Architectural Competition)
See also        Frank Mee for unplaced competition entry
See also        Frank Brazier for 1930 extension