Knowledge (XXG)

Runcorn Town Hall

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479: 470: 212: 433: 272: 563: 45: 219: 449:, in the centre of which is the figure of a young girl's head, possibly the daughter of Thomas Johnson. The mayor's parlour has an unusual feature, a window above the fireplace. This is concealed by a mirror which can be slid sideways. The chimney for the fireplace is built into the wall to the right of the window. The staircase is geometrical with 343:
acres (4.8 ha), for £2,250 (equivalent to £200,000 in 2023). The following year the building was converted into the offices of the Runcorn Urban District Council which relocated from Waterloo House in Waterloo Road. In 1964–65 an office block was built adjacent to the house and the house was
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in Runcorn, who bought it in 1909 for £5,000 (equivalent to £660,000 in 2023). Francis Boston died in 1929 and the house and grounds were put up for auction. In 1931 Frederick Clare and Latham Ryder, local builders, bought part of the grounds for £1,975 (equivalent to £170,000 in 2023). In
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in 1871. In that year Halton Grange and its surrounding farm were sold to Charles Hazlehurst for £10,428 (equivalent to £1,230,000 in 2023). Charles Hazlehurst was the junior partner in the other soap and alkali business in Runcorn,
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The ground floor includes the mayor's parlour, a members' room and committee rooms. On the upper floor are reception rooms and a kitchen. A more modern council chamber has been added to the rear. The entrance hall has a
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In January 1854 the land on which the building stands was bought by Thomas Johnson from Francis Selkeld for £4,280 (equivalent to £510,000 in 2023). Thomas was the younger brother in the partnership of
255:. It was originally built as Halton Grange, a mansion for Thomas Johnson, a local industrialist. After passing through the ownership of two other industrialists, it was purchased in the 1930s by 535:. It is likely that they were purchased by Thomas Johnson around the time that the house was built. Elsewhere in the building are other paintings, many of which show Runcorn in former times. 114: 547:
forms a public park. The adjacent office block was reclad and refurbished in 2007. In 2008 a garden was established to the north of the town hall by the town of
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above it. The bay between the portico and the tower has a triple round-headed window with another balustrade above it. All corners have
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adapted to become the civic suite. Following local government re-organisation in 1974, the building became the meeting place for
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but all their ships were sunk, resulting in a considerable loss of money. They eventually became
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manufacturers in Runcorn. In 1853–56 a mansion was built for Thomas on the land to a design by
977: 938: 915: 809: 321: 903: 614: 508: 292:(formerly Reed). The name of the mansion was Halton Grange and its gardens were planned by 275:
Runcorn Town Hall, south aspect, with the newer office block in the background to the right
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visited the town hall as part of celebrations for the 1,100th anniversary of the town.
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and converted into their offices. Since 1974, it has been the meeting place for
44: 731:"The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)" 562: 558: 514: 495:(right) by Andrea Casali c.1743, hung above the staircase in Runcorn Town Hall 309: 91: 78: 942: 450: 551:
in China; it includes a traditional Chinese sculpture depicting acrobats.
548: 413: 412:. The upper level of the tower has triple openings which are flanked by 402: 301: 244: 63: 398: 394:. The building has three bays on each front. The entrance front has a 240: 59: 442: 366: 285: 501:
On the walls overlooking the staircase are two large paintings by
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In 1904 the house was leased to Francis Boston, the owner of a
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bought the house and the remainder of the grounds, a total of
296:. In the 1860s the Johnson brothers became involved in the 855: 830:"HRH The Duke of Gloucester visits Cheshire in April 2015" 436:
Marble columns inside the entrance to Runcorn Town Hall
519:. These paintings were commissioned in about 1743 by 457:. The stained glass in this window depicts Runcorn's 543:
Most of the area occupied by the gardens laid out by
373:. The building is in two storeys in the style of an 453:
balusters, over which is a large window glazed in a
937:(2nd ed.), New York: John Wiley, p. 270, 189: 181: 171: 157: 147: 137: 129: 121: 107: 70: 54: 23: 910:, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: 416:on all faces. The ground floor windows are double 16:Municipal building in Runcorn, Cheshire, England 966:de Figueiredo, Peter; Treuherz, Julian (1988), 719: 717: 715: 8: 891:Runcorn Town Hall: A History and Description 384:rising to four storeys. The authors of the 868: 866: 864: 769:"Waterloo House, Runcorn faces demolition" 20: 727:inflation figures are based on data from 218: 788: 786: 609: 607: 605: 603: 601: 577:Listed buildings in Runcorn (urban area) 390:series suggest it has similarities with 694: 682: 658: 597: 851: 849: 847: 642: 640: 1000:Grade II listed buildings in Cheshire 188: 180: 170: 7: 872: 806:Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70 792: 755: 706: 670: 646: 1015:Buildings and structures in Runcorn 972:, Chichester: Phillimore, pp.  808:. The Stationery Office Ltd. 1997. 1030:Italianate architecture in England 624:National Heritage List for England 249:National Heritage List for England 247:, England. It is recorded in the 14: 898:Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; 561: 477: 468: 365:The exterior of the building is 217: 210: 43: 1020:City and town halls in Cheshire 1035:1856 establishments in England 527:. The frames were designed by 521:Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney 327:Runcorn Urban District Council 257:Runcorn Urban District Council 251:as a designated Grade II 49:Runcorn Town Hall, west aspect 1: 619:"Runcorn Town Hall (1104859)" 582:List of works by Charles Reed 300:by trying to break a naval 1051: 771:. Save Britain's Heritage 282:John & Thomas Johnson 205: 201: 197: 167: 42: 28: 1025:Houses completed in 1856 953:, Halton Borough Council 893:, Halton Borough Council 493:The Continence of Scipio 489:Sophonisba Taking Poison 969:Cheshire Country Houses 949:Starkey, H. F. (1990), 934:How to Lay out a Garden 729:Clark, Gregory (2017), 1005:Grade II listed houses 832:. Cheshire Lieutenancy 437: 346:Halton Borough Council 276: 261:Halton Borough Council 162:Halton Borough Council 148:Architectural style(s) 912:Yale University Press 435: 348:. In April 2015, the 315:Hazlehurst & Sons 274: 856:Hartwell et al. 2011 420:and those above are 387:Buildings of England 226:Location in Cheshire 445:floor, probably by 369:and the roof is of 88: /  1010:Houses in Cheshire 725:Retail Price Index 438: 350:Duke of Gloucester 298:American Civil War 277: 239:is in Heath Road, 190:Reference no. 92:53.3336°N 2.7238°W 921:978-0-300-17043-6 904:Pevsner, Nikolaus 539:External features 237:Runcorn Town Hall 234: 233: 109:OS grid reference 24:Runcorn Town Hall 1042: 986: 954: 945: 924: 894: 876: 875:, pp. 13–16 870: 859: 853: 842: 841: 839: 837: 826: 820: 819: 802: 796: 790: 781: 780: 778: 776: 765: 759: 753: 747: 746: 745: 743: 721: 710: 704: 698: 692: 686: 680: 674: 668: 662: 656: 650: 644: 635: 634: 633: 631: 615:Historic England 611: 571: 566: 565: 481: 472: 342: 341: 337: 334: 221: 220: 214: 117: 103: 102: 100: 99: 98: 97:53.3336; -2.7238 93: 89: 86: 85: 84: 81: 47: 21: 1050: 1049: 1045: 1044: 1043: 1041: 1040: 1039: 990: 989: 984: 965: 962: 960:Further reading 957: 948: 927: 922: 900:Hubbard, Edward 897: 888: 879: 871: 862: 854: 845: 835: 833: 828: 827: 823: 816: 804: 803: 799: 791: 784: 774: 772: 767: 766: 762: 754: 750: 741: 739: 728: 722: 713: 705: 701: 693: 689: 681: 677: 669: 665: 657: 653: 645: 638: 629: 627: 613: 612: 599: 590: 569:Cheshire portal 567: 560: 557: 541: 499: 498: 497: 496: 484: 483: 482: 474: 473: 430: 363: 358: 339: 335: 332: 330: 290:Charles Verelst 269: 253:listed building 230: 229: 228: 227: 224: 223: 222: 185:31 October 1983 177: 174:Listed Building 142:Charles Verelst 113: 96: 94: 90: 87: 82: 79: 77: 75: 74: 50: 38: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1048: 1046: 1038: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1007: 1002: 992: 991: 988: 987: 982: 961: 958: 956: 955: 946: 925: 920: 895: 885: 878: 877: 860: 843: 821: 814: 797: 782: 760: 748: 736:MeasuringWorth 711: 699: 687: 675: 663: 651: 636: 596: 589: 586: 585: 584: 579: 573: 572: 556: 553: 540: 537: 525:Wanstead House 507:Continence of 505:depicting the 487:The paintings 486: 485: 476: 475: 467: 466: 465: 464: 463: 455:Venetian style 429: 426: 362: 359: 357: 354: 268: 265: 232: 231: 225: 216: 215: 209: 208: 207: 206: 203: 202: 199: 198: 195: 194: 191: 187: 186: 183: 179: 178: 172: 169: 168: 165: 164: 159: 155: 154: 149: 145: 144: 139: 135: 134: 133:Thomas Johnson 131: 127: 126: 123: 119: 118: 111: 105: 104: 72: 68: 67: 56: 52: 51: 48: 40: 39: 37: 36: 33: 29: 26: 25: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1047: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 997: 995: 985: 983:0-85033-655-4 979: 975: 971: 970: 964: 963: 959: 952: 947: 944: 940: 936: 935: 930: 926: 923: 917: 913: 909: 905: 901: 896: 892: 889:Anon (1990), 887: 886: 884: 883: 874: 869: 867: 865: 861: 858:, p. 561 857: 852: 850: 848: 844: 831: 825: 822: 817: 815:0-10-547072-4 811: 807: 801: 798: 794: 789: 787: 783: 770: 764: 761: 757: 752: 749: 738: 737: 732: 726: 720: 718: 716: 712: 708: 703: 700: 697:, p. 156 696: 691: 688: 685:, p. 158 684: 679: 676: 673:, p. 270 672: 667: 664: 661:, p. 154 660: 655: 652: 648: 643: 641: 637: 626: 625: 620: 616: 610: 608: 606: 604: 602: 598: 595: 594: 587: 583: 580: 578: 575: 574: 570: 564: 559: 554: 552: 550: 546: 538: 536: 534: 530: 526: 522: 518: 517:Taking Poison 516: 511: 510: 504: 503:Andrea Casali 494: 490: 480: 471: 462: 460: 456: 452: 448: 444: 434: 427: 425: 423: 419: 415: 411: 408: 404: 401:with an open 400: 397: 393: 392:Osborne House 389: 388: 383: 379: 376: 372: 368: 360: 355: 353: 351: 347: 328: 323: 318: 316: 311: 307: 303: 299: 295: 291: 287: 283: 273: 266: 264: 262: 258: 254: 250: 246: 242: 238: 213: 204: 200: 196: 192: 184: 175: 166: 163: 160: 156: 153: 150: 146: 143: 140: 136: 132: 128: 124: 120: 116: 112: 110: 106: 101: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 46: 41: 35:Boston Grange 34: 32:Halton Grange 31: 30: 27: 22: 19: 968: 950: 933: 929:Kemp, Edward 907: 890: 881: 880: 836:26 September 834:. Retrieved 824: 805: 800: 795:, p. 13 773:. Retrieved 763: 751: 740:, retrieved 734: 702: 695:Starkey 1990 690: 683:Starkey 1990 678: 666: 659:Starkey 1990 654: 628:, retrieved 622: 592: 591: 542: 529:William Kent 513: 506: 500: 492: 488: 459:coat of arms 439: 422:sash windows 385: 364: 319: 278: 236: 235: 58:Heath Road, 18: 951:Old Runcorn 775:20 December 758:, p. 6 709:, p. 5 649:, p. 1 545:Edward Kemp 491:(left) and 356:Description 294:Edward Kemp 284:, soap and 95: / 71:Coordinates 994:Categories 588:References 533:Eaton Hall 515:Sophonisba 407:rusticated 403:balustrade 375:Italianate 306:Charleston 182:Designated 176:– Grade II 152:Italianate 115:SJ 518 820 80:53°20′01″N 906:(2011) , 873:Anon 1990 793:Anon 1990 756:Anon 1990 707:Anon 1990 671:Kemp 1860 647:Anon 1990 630:12 August 593:Citations 451:cast iron 418:casements 414:pilasters 382:belvedere 380:, with a 138:Architect 130:Built for 83:2°43′26″W 66:, England 943:56001631 931:(1860), 908:Cheshire 555:See also 549:Tongling 428:Interior 367:rendered 361:Exterior 310:bankrupt 302:blockade 245:Cheshire 64:Cheshire 55:Location 974:235–237 882:Sources 399:portico 338:⁄ 322:tannery 267:History 241:Runcorn 193:1104859 125:1853–56 60:Runcorn 980:  941:  918:  812:  509:Scipio 447:Minton 443:mosaic 410:quoins 396:Tuscan 286:alkali 742:7 May 378:villa 371:slate 325:1932 158:Owner 122:Built 978:ISBN 939:OCLC 916:ISBN 838:2021 810:ISBN 777:2021 744:2024 632:2012 523:for 512:and 723:UK 304:at 996:: 976:, 914:, 902:; 863:^ 846:^ 785:^ 733:, 714:^ 639:^ 621:, 617:, 600:^ 461:. 424:. 331:11 263:. 243:, 62:, 840:. 818:. 779:. 340:4 336:3 333:+

Index


Runcorn
Cheshire
53°20′01″N 2°43′26″W / 53.3336°N 2.7238°W / 53.3336; -2.7238
OS grid reference
SJ 518 820
Charles Verelst
Italianate
Halton Borough Council
Listed Building
Runcorn Town Hall is located in Cheshire
Runcorn
Cheshire
National Heritage List for England
listed building
Runcorn Urban District Council
Halton Borough Council

John & Thomas Johnson
alkali
Charles Verelst
Edward Kemp
American Civil War
blockade
Charleston
bankrupt
Hazlehurst & Sons
tannery
Runcorn Urban District Council
Halton Borough Council

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