Maidstone Town Hall - Middle Row, Maidstone, UK
N 51° 16.410 E 000° 31.345
31U E 327184 N 5683155
Maidstone Town Hall, built in 1763, stands at the north east end of Middle Row in Maidstone. Over the years it has housed a market, magistrates' court, prison cells and as well as being a Town Hall.
Waymark Code: WMR5WN
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/14/2016
Views: 1
Set in the pavement, outside the entrance to the building, is a circular stone slab that is inscribed:
Maidstone
1763
Town Hall
Maidstone Town Hall is Grade II* listed with the entry at the Historic England website telling us:
Built 1762-3. The ground floor was originally used as a market, then converted into the police court. 2 storeys. 7 windows, the easternmost and westernmost ones slightly set back. Ground floor Portland ashlar above red brick with stone dressings. Stone modillion cornice and brick parapet with pediment, above the 3 easternmost windows of the non-recessed portion. Cupola of 8 Ionic columns supporting a small dome surmounted by a gilded ball and weather vane. 1st floor windows in stone architrave surrounds with pediments over, alternately triangular and curved. Large round-headed windows on the ground floor flanked by pilasters, with a stringcourse above the ground floor. 2 round-headed doorways with large semi-circular fanlights and doors of 6 moulded panels. The east end of the building forms a canted bay of 3 windows.
The Council Chamber contains a fine Rococo painted ceiling and drops of musical instruments on the wall by Galli and Cotti. 2 C18 pedimented overmantels, and 6 fielded panelled doors.
There are also 2 large cells with graffiti carved by the prisoners. This was used as a prison before the prison along Boxley Road was built and incorporates timbers from an earlier timber-framed building on the site.
The Visit Maidstone website tells us about the Town Hall:
Maidstone Town Hall is a fine Georgian building originally dated 1763 used as the Magistrate's Courts. Above the richly decorated council chamber is the old prison cell where you can still see graffiti carved by prisoners awaiting deportation.
To see inside the Town Hall, book a Town Hall tour that take place on the 1st Saturday of the month.
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