Rotherham Town Hall
This building was the West Riding Courthouse erected on in the 1930s. This was the site of the former cattle market which moved elsewhere in 1926 and a whole raft of other old buildings between the Crofts and Talbot Lane were demolished to make way for it. The courthouse and police station moved to a new site at the Statues in the early 1980s and the building was purchased by Rotherham Council. The facade was kept but the interior was much altered to form the new Rotherham Town Hall which opened in May 1985.
Rotherham Town Hall is a working building and as such is only open for visits on Town Hall Open Days which occur about once a year. It is actually worth a visit - there are lots of interesting bits to see. Town Hall Open Day 2011.
The robes of the Mayor and Mayoress, the Macebearer and so on are kept on display unless they are in use. The other regalia of office like the mayoral chains and the mace are kept in locked display cupboards in the Town Hall and brought out for special occasions, school visits and special visitors. The mace is the symbol that the mayor holds Royal Authority and that he is the Queen's representative in the town. At one time mayor's were also chief justices of the peace but I don't think that this applies any longer. Rotherham's mace was made in 1902 by T&J Bragg of Birmingham to a design by John Mason's Jewellers in gilt on silver.
Rotherham Town Hall has been done up during 2010 at a cost of £2.9million. The council chamber had been redesigned with viewing galleries, tiered seating and up-to-date technology. The Mayoral suite and the meeting and conference facilities have been refurbished. I went for a look around in October 2011 on Town Hall open day. I have to say that it has been very nicely done.
Address:- Rotherham Town Hall, The Crofts, Moorgate Street, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, S60 2RB. Tel.: 44 (0)1709 382121/822740.
Although the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths will not be moving here, the Town Hall will become the main venue for those wanting a registry office wedding in the town. Receptions can also be arranged as can a visit from Doncaster Town Crier, Henry Cryer, as shown in the photograph. The Town Hall is also available for conferences and meetings with room for 60-90 people. Tel. 44 (0)1709 833731.