Details
WEYMOUTH
SY6778NE ST EDMUND STREET
873-1/23/282 (South side)
12/12/53 Guildhall, with attached rear
boundary wall
(Formerly Listed as:
ST EDMUND STREET
(South side)
Guildhall)
GV II*
Guildhall. 1836-7, with late C20 modifications. By Talbot Bury
(RCHME). Portland stone ashlar, rear and party walls rendered,
slate roof. A formal classical statement, with tall projecting
portico carried on an open arcaded ground storey carried
across the pavement. A grand entrance hall with staircase is
flanked by cells to the left and offices to the right; on this
side, in Maiden Street was formerly an open arcaded walk, now
enclosed. The upper floor has a full-width main chamber, with
service rooms behind.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 5 bay front and 3 bay return. The
principal front is in 1:3:1 windows; the tetrastyle Ionic
portico with pediment covers three 15-pane sashes in moulded
architraves, the centre light with cornice on scrolled
consoles, and the outer bays have tripartite 5:15:5-pane
sashes with stone pilaster mullions and entablature set
between main pilasters and responds to the portico, and on a
sill band with ovolo mould, which continues as a base to the
portico columns.
Ground floor is channelled, with voussoirs, and has a 9-pane
arched sash with radial head in a plat surround and with
panelled apron, flanking 3 arched openings, the central one
elliptical over a pair of 3-panel doors; the side openings
have bold cast-iron gates to small lobbies. That to the left
has a 4-pane flush door under 4-pane transom light, on 4 stone
steps, and to the right, where the lobby soffit has been
lowered, a similar door.
The 3 centre bays are under the bold projecting portico,
forming a porte-cochere, with 3 front openings and single end
ones, all arched. This front has a high plain plinth, a full
entablature, and 4 square piers with moulded caps at the
blocking-course level. The party wall to the left is plain,
rendered.
The front to Maiden Street is detailed as the main facade,
with plain above channelled ashlar on a plain plinth. The
first floor is in 5 bays divided by full-height pilasters and
end responds, with 3 deep 15-pane sashes to pilasters and
inset entablature, on a sill band, and blank end bays. Ground
floor has 3 arched sashes (the centre one blind) and 2 high
arched openings with heavy cast-iron gates backed by plate
glass; these formerly gave to the internal open passageway.
Above the entablature are 6 piers with cappings, but no
connecting blocking course.
The rear wall has 3 large sashes, the centre one without
glazing bars, and a parallel range of lower 2-storey work with
2 arched sashes, corner pilasters, cornice and blocking
course.
INTERIOR: the entrance doors, in a deep chamfered plain stone
surround internally, have have heavy strap hinges, the upper
ones carried around the elliptical top rails, and open to 4
stone steps leading to a square hall with stone floor. To left
and right, through arched doorways with cast-iron gates, are
vaulted chambers off an inner corridor, with 4-panel flush
doors under fanlights.
The end of the hall has 3 lofty arches over the wide stone
staircase, which divides from a landing to flights with
risers. The cast-iron balustrades have a heavy mahogany
wreathed handrail. At the landing is a deep niche containing a
white marble statue, signed 'THEAKSTON, Sculp: 1821' of Samuel
Weston '... four times Mayor ... died 1817 ...', and paid for
by public subscription. The central of 3 landing sashes
carries an engraved panel with the Weymouth Arms. Doors
generally are 4-panelled.
The upper floor formerly had 2 main spaces, a Court Room and a
Council Chamber; this is now in one running across the front,
with the centre section marked by square painted pilasters and
responds carrying deep beams, to a simple compartmental
ceiling, with egg-and-dart cornice below a deep plain frieze
to a C19 moulded ceiling cornice. The centre section has a
raised and recessed platform backed by panelling, with a
panelled front balustrade.
At either end of this space are Royal Arms; at the E end to
Queen Victoria, in carved wood, of 1842, and at the W end a
fine painted and carved Arms of James I, supported by gilded
figures representing Peace and Plenty. George I Arms on
canvas, painted and possibly given by James Thornhill in 1721
(the year of his election as MP (RCHME).
A suitably dignified building, the Guildhall cannot be fully
appreciated as it faces a narrow street. It is on the site of
a former Melcombe Regis Town Hall. Behind the building, at the
far end of the rear wall is a projecting section of high
rubble wall, which could possibly date from this earlier
building.
(RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 338).
Listing NGR: SY6793878757
