Listed Building record TQ 75 NE 89 - The Town Hall (18th C), Maidstone

[TQ 76035572] Town Hall (NAT) (1) The Town Hall, Middle Row, Grade II*. Built 1762-3. The ground floor was originally used as a market, then converted into the police court. (2) Additional bibliography. (3)

Description from record TQ 75 NE 793:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
MIDDLE ROW 1. 5278 The Town Hall TQ 7655 NW 2/21 30.7.51. II*
2. Built 1762-3. The ground floor was originally used as a market, then converted into the police court. 2 storeys. 7 windows, the easternmost and westernmost ones slightly set back. Ground floor Portland ashlar above red brick with stone dressings. Stone modillion cornice and brick parapet with pediment, above the 3 easternmost windows of the non-recessed portion. Cupola of 8 Ionic columns supporting a small dome surmounted by a gilded ball and weather vane. 1st floor windows in stone architrave surrounds with pediments over, alternately triangular and curved. Large round-headed windows on the ground floor flanked by pilasters, with a stringcourse above the ground floor. 2 round-headed doorways with large semi-circular fanlights and doors of 6 moulded panels. The east end of the building forms a canted bay of 3 windows. The Council Chamber contains a fine Rococo painted ceiling and drops of musical instruments on the wall by Galli and Cotti. 2 C18 pedimented overmantels, and 6 fielded panelled doors. There are also 2 large cells with graffiti carved by the prisoners. This was used as a prison before the prison along Boxley Road was built and incorporates timbers from an earlier timber-framed building on the site. Listing NGR: TQ7602755719 (4)

The Town Hall is shown on the Tithe map dated approx 1840, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Edition O/S maps and also the current O/S map.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952): Landmark Epoch 4 (Map). SKE30967.

Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.

<1> OS 12500 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48242.

<2> DOE(HHR) Dist of Maidstone Kent Aug 1974 69 (OS Card Reference). SKE40976.

<3> Bldgs of Eng - West Kent & the Weald 1980 411 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37681.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.