Wokingham Town Hall stands boldly at the heart of Wokingham. It is built on the site where a market was granted a charter by Henry III in 1227. Early records suggest there has been a Clock-house or Guildhall here since well before 1583 when Queen Elizabeth I granted the town a Charter.

The New Town Hall is Built 1858-1860

Although substantially renovated in 1819, the old Guildhall had become so dilapidated by 1857 that it was decided to demolish it and build a replacement, mainly as a courthouse and police station, but also with a Council Chamber, small covered market and rooms for reading and a savings bank.

A competition was held and the design, by the Reading architects Poulton & Woodman selected. The new Town Hall cost over £3,500 of which £2,000 was provided by the County Police Committee, £500 from Corporation members and the rest by public subscription. It was completed in 1860.

Built in Victorian gothic style, the Town Hall is a tribute to the skilled craftsmanship of the Reading builders, Wheeler & Woodroffe, and those who worked for them. From the outside it looks much the same as it did in the 1860s but the courtyard has been covered and a number of changes made to the internal structure. It is now a Grade II* listed building.

Markets & Shops

The long tradition of a market being associated with the Guildhall or Town Hall was continued in 1860. A covered market was provided under the arches and, as well as housing the fire engines, an occasional 'fowl market' was also held. In 1969 it was used for the WADE shop and later converted to four separate shops. The Town Council manages the open market held in the Market Place and the covered courtyard market has recently been converted to a restaurant.

The War Memorial

The War Memorial in the Annexe was unveiled in 1924 by Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee to commemorate Wokingham men who had fallen in the 1914-1918 war. Cllr H C Mylne, Borough Mayor during the war, was responsible for raising funds to build the memorial and purchase buildings for the Memorial Orthopaedic Clinic in Denmark Street. Later the names of those killed in the 1939-1945 were added, as was that of a Wokingham pilot killed during the Falklands War. There are other reminders of war effort in the Annexe and each year a simple remembrance ceremony is held here.

The New Town Hall is Opened

The opening of the new Town Hall on 6th June 1860 was a splendid occasion, reported vividly in the London Illustrated News. Church bells pealed and the Rt Hon Richard, Lord Braybrooke, High Steward of Wokingham, was met at the railway station by Mr F A Carrington, the Recorder of the Oxford Circuit, Alderman J L Roberts, attended by the Sergeant at Mace and members of the Corporation.

There was a grand procession to the Town Hall for speeches and prayers at the opening ceremony. Afterwards, the procession marched to Alderman Roberts house where there was a spread for over fifty people.

In the evening an introductory ball was held. The Main Hall was beautifully lit and decorated with flowers. All admired the Corporation's paintings and the large mirror presented by the Recorder (these still hang in the Town Hall). Music and dancing went on with great spirit until four o'clock in the morning.

The Courthouse & Police Station

The Town Hall served as a courthouse and police station until 1905 when the new police station was built on the corner of Rectory Road. The original stone plaque inscribed 'County Police Station' can still be seen high up near the roof of the Town Hall, opposite Gotelee House in the Market Place.

The Main Hall with its pine hammer beam roof served as the courtroom. Court Officials and witnesses entered from the witnesses' room, now the Council Chamber, and the magistrate presided from a low wooden dais behind a wooden court rail. The position of this bar is now marked with a brass plate on the floor of the Main Hall.

Prisoners were kept in cells on the ground floor next to the open courtyard, then an exercise yard. They were brought into the courtroom up the internal staircase and stood at the bar for trial. The Police Superintendent lived in the Town Hall and, with his constables, had offices in the building.

The Town Hall as a Community Hall

The Town Hall has always been available for community use when it was not needed for official business. Dinners, concerts, lectures, displays, meetings, bazaars, sales and civil ceremonies are held in the Main Hall, with the smaller rooms being used for meetings and other functions. These rooms are all available for hire.

The Main Hall, Annexe & Council Chamber have all recently been refurbished to their original Victorian splendour and all upstairs rooms are fully accessible by lift.

The Town Hall is open to the public in September as part of the National Heritage weekend. Councillors are on hand to escort visitors and explain some of the history of the building. The Wokingham History Group also conducts town walks.