User:VictoriaQuarry/sandbox

=BRIDGNORTH TOWN HALL=

Bridgnorth Town Hall is situated in the High Street in the historic market town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. Owned by the Bridgnorth Town Council, the Town Hall is open free of charge to the public.

History
By the mid 17th century there was a wooden Burgesses' Hall outside the Northgate which was dismantled in 1646 and the timbers stored, for safekeeping,in St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth when an attack by the Parliamentarian army was believed to be imminent. The hall was used both as a meeting place for the Bailiffs and Burgesses who governed the town, and as a local and Assize court. The Assizes were held in the hall up until 1739 and the court remained as a working Magistrates court until 1973. The hall continued in use as a County Court and Coroners court until the 1980s.

Exterior
The Town Hall is an oak framed structure built on sandstone pillars. The building was completed in the summer of 1652 and it is believed that the oak beams and timbers came from a redundant tithe barn from Much Wenlock and were purchased from Lady Bertie for £50. Dr Barrie Trinder however states that “ The legend that it was previously a barn in Much Wenlock is not well-founded.”

Interior
The interior of the Town Hall was restored and improved in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. This included the installation of the stained glass windows which depict the kings who granted charters to Bridgnorth together with the coats of arms of local families. The Ante room The Council Chamber panelled in oak displaying  the names of all Bridgnorth’s Mayors from 1836 to date. The second main area is the Court Room still set out as it was when used as a Magistrates’ and Coroner’s court. The old waiting room for the court is now utilised as a tea room.

Charter Market
The building was raised on pillars to accommodate the markets granted by royal charters from 1157 onwards. The market is still held under the arches every Friday and Saturday. The hall was used both as a meeting place for the Bailiffs and Burgesses who governed the town, and as a local and Assize court. The Assizes were held in the hall up until 1739 and the court remained as a working Magistrates court until 1973. It continued in use as a County Court and Coroners court until ??? The interior of the Town Hall was restored and improved in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. This included the installation of the stunning stained glass windows which depict the kings who granted charters to Bridgnorth together with the coats of arms of local families. There are two main rooms. Firstly, the Council Chamber panelled in oak displaying  the names of all Bridgnorth’s Mayors from 1836 to date. The second main area is the Court Room still set out as it was when used as a Magistrates’ and Coroner’s court. The old waiting room for the court is now utilised as a tea room. The current Town Council normally use the Council offices in St Leonard’s Square for their meetings but the Town Hall is used for ceremonial occasions. The Town Hall is also available for hire.