Tunstall Town Hall To Reopen After Renovations

The historic town hall in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, is set to re-open after conservation work was completed to preserve some of its original features. The Grade II listed red-brick town hall was built in 1885, and was designed by Absalom Wood. It had suffered neglect in recent decades, despite containing some fine examples of craftsmanship.

Extensive restoration works, at a cost of £3.8 million, have been ongoing since April 2020. Much of the original plasterwork had to be removed to access the structure of the building. However, the ornate Victorian plaster covings have been restored to their original condition.

A grand staircase and other Victorian features, including decorative tiling, and etched doors and architraves (the moulding around doorways and windows) were restored. The stonework on the exterior of the building was also restored by specialist heritage stone masons.

Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage has said: “Improving Tunstall Town Hall and moving much needed services into one building is a great start to improving the area.”

He added: “The building was in a much worse state of repair than first thought. The front elevation was rotating towards the street and some of the roof tiles had perished and after decades of limited investment, a lot of the structure had become a concern, with one of the first tasks to peel as much of the plaster and finishes to expose the structure.”

“The heritage improvement works for a beautiful building have helped us uncover some incredible features and really capture the craftmanship of historical architectural roots with in the city.”

Following the successful restoration, the Town Hall will now be put to use serving the community with a local library, a children’s centre, and a community hub.

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