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County Hall, Trowbridge

Coordinates: 51°19′02″N 2°12′38″W / 51.3171°N 2.2106°W / 51.3171; -2.2106
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County Hall, Trowbridge
County Hall
County Hall is located in Wiltshire
County Hall
County Hall
Location within Wiltshire
General information
Architectural styleNeo-Georgian style
AddressBythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JQ
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°19′02″N 2°12′38″W / 51.3171°N 2.2106°W / 51.3171; -2.2106
Completed1940
Design and construction
Architect(s)Philip Hepworth

County Hall is a municipal building in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, completed in 1940. It is the headquarters of Wiltshire Council.

History

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In the 19th century the judicial functions of the county were discharged at Devizes Assize Court in the Summer[1] and at Salisbury Assize Court in the Lent.[2] Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, there was a need to find a meeting place for Wiltshire County Council,[3] and the Victoria County History infers that Trowbridge was chosen by virtue of its railway connections.[4] The County Council acquired Arlington House[5] in The Parade, Trowbridge in 1896; subsequent extensions included a block of offices on land behind the building, completed in 1900, and a block of offices adjacent to the building completed in 1913.[4]

After deciding that the facilities at Arlington House and the adjacent properties were inadequate for their needs, council leaders decided to procure a new purpose-built building; the site they selected in Bythesea Road had previously been occupied by the Trowbridge Town football club.[6] The new building, which was designed by Philip Hepworth in the Neo-Georgian style, was completed in 1940.[6] The design has a symmetrical main frontage with thirteen bays facing onto Bythesea Road, the end bays slightly projected forward; the central section features a three-bay portico in antis with Doric order columns; there is a prominent window, framed by an aedicule, on the first floor and a wooden lantern containing a clock at roof level.[6] Internally, the principal room was the council chamber which was polygon-shaped and jutted out to the rear of the main building.[6]

During the Second World War, following concerns that County Hall would be a potential landmark for German aircraft, it was covered in camouflage nets.[4] An extension to a design by Alec French & Partners was built to the south east of the main building and completed in 1974.[6]

Following the merger of the former non-metropolitan districts of Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury and West Wiltshire in April 2009, a new unitary authority known as Wiltshire Council adopted County Hall as its headquarters.[7] In 2011, following an application from the county council, English Heritage decided not to list County Hall as the building did not meet the criteria for listing post-1945 buildings.[6] The building was extensively refurbished by Kier Group at a cost of £22 million, to a design by Stride Treglown, in 2012.[8] The refurbishment works involved the creation of a new link block to the 1970s extension; it also involved covering over the internal courtyard within the extension with an ETFE roof, so creating a new cafe and exhibition area.[9][10][11]

Public facilities

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County Hall has the main office of Wiltshire Council's registration service,[12] and parts of the building are used for ceremonies such as marriage and civil partnership.[13] The building also houses the town's public library.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Saving the Assizes – a new home for the Wiltshire Museum". Wiltshire Museum. 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Wiltshire". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Local Government Act 1888". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Chettle, H F; Powell, W R; Spalding, P A; Tillott, P M (1953). "'Parishes: Trowbridge', in A History of the County of Wiltshire". British History Online. University of London. pp. 125–171. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Arlington House, Trowbridge (1364231)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "County Hall". PastScape. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Leader of Wiltshire council: 'The cuts have been manageable'". The Guardian. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b Frampton, Will (10 August 2012). "New library and cafe for Trowbridge". Wiltshire Times. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Wiltshire Council County Hall". AJ Buildings Library. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Trowbridge County Hall: Walking on air". Building. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. ^ "A public sector building that lights the way ahead for others". Workplace Insight. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Contact Registration Service". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Approved venue search". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 3 February 2023.