The Town Hall was constructed in 1887 in Queen Anne
style. The building is built of brick with sparse stone
dressings, leaded mullion and transom windows, and has
end pavilions with gables. It was locally listed in
1985. In July 1881 the Local Board borrowed £500 from
the government to purchase the land on which to build a
Town Hall. A piece of land was duly purchased in Pardoes
Lane where one of the town's two workhouses, now
derelict, had been built. The foundation stone was laid
on Tuesday 21st of June, 1887 by James Slater of Bescot
Hall, Chairman of the Local Board.
The Town Hall opened on Wednesday 31st October, 1888
but even then had not been completed as all of the
available money had run out. Apart from the original
£500 loan, £3,500 was borrowed from the Prudential
Insurance Company, and a further £2,000 raised by public
subscription. Before building work had finished another
£560 was borrowed, and £440 raised from indoor markets
held in the Town Hall itself. The last part to be
completed was the public library, which opened on the
14th September 1891.
In November 1903 the Town Hall was presented with an
organ by Mrs. Slater, the widow of James Slater, an
ex-chairman of the Local Board. On the 1st of January,
1895 Darlaston became an Urban District, and the Local
Board became Darlaston Urban District Council. Their
meetings were held at the Town Hall for the next 70
years, until Darlaston became part of Walsall in 1965.
The Town Hall now houses the Social Services department.
The main hall is still used for concerts, plays,
pantomimes, and jumble sales. |