About

The original Christchurch Town Hall is believed to have stood further along the High Street near the Ship Inn. The building now known as the Old Town Hall was first constructed between 1745 and 1747 on the site of the former Market House at The Square, where the High Street meets Castle Street. Markets were traditionally held beneath the building, and the construction cost of the new Town Hall was recorded as £500. Historic illustrations from the period show the building surrounded by an arcade.

In 1857, the current site of the Old Town Hall – then known as Blanchard’s Yard – was purchased by James Druitt. The Town Hall was reportedly dismantled and moved brick by brick to its present location, retaining its original façade but removing the surrounding arcade. The relocation was completed in 1859, with an additional hall constructed at the rear of the building. The work was carried out by George Wickham at a total cost of £1,075.

The Old Town Hall is a Grade II listed building dating from 1859, incorporating the reconstructed upper floor and cupola of the original 1746 Town Hall. The building is constructed in red brick with white stone dressings, featuring a stone cornice, balustrade and hipped slate roof with a central domed cupola.

The façade includes stone quoins, a pedimented centre bay with Doric pilasters, and a Venetian-style window with balcony on the first floor. Ground floor windows and doors are round-arched with moulded stone surrounds and keystones, while the upper windows retain traditional sash frames.

Over the years, a number of alterations and improvements have been made, including the replacement of the cupola in 2020.

The building’s official listing can be viewed via Historic England.

Following local government reorganisation in Dorset in 2019, Christchurch Town Council became the freeholders and custodians of the Old Town Hall.

Today, the building continues to serve an important civic role. The Mayor of Christchurch uses the Mayor’s Parlour for meetings and official duties, while the Old Town Hall also houses the administrative offices of the Town Clerk and council officers.