Listed Building: GUILDHALL WITH ATTACHED REAR BOUNDARY WALL (467887)

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

Record last edited

Sep 16 2009 2:33AM