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history of the hall
DELVE INTO THE PAST OF THIS WONDEFUL PLACE
development & design
The origins of Alty Town Hall begun with an architectural design competition, won by Charles Albert Hindle.
Hindle's original drawing featured just the central and right sections seen today, specifying the iconic red brick and stone dressings. The design was Jacobean in style, with an asymmetrical frontage featuring 5 bays facing onto Market Street.
The right hand bay included a date stone, while the central section projected forward and boasted a porch flanked by pilasters that supported an open pediment. The first floor displayed mullioned windows and an entablature carved with "Altrincham Town Hall" (still to be seen to this day!)
The construction was to come to a total cost of £7,500.
Following a delay caused by an unchartered water cistern, construction of Altrincham Town Hall began in 1899.
finding symmetry
Altrincham Town Hall officially opened in 1901., with the construction coming to a total cost of £7,500. However, it didn't remain stagnant for long. as, in 1930, it was extended to the South by two extra bays.
The left-hand end bay also featured a Jacobean style gable containing a date stone, giving the building its' current symmetry.
37 years of altrincham Council
At this time, the population in Altrincham was growing, driven by the construction and expansion of The Linotype and Machinery Company's new Broadheath factory which, at its height, employed over 10,000 workers.
In line with this boom, in 1937 Altrincham officially became a municipal borough and Altrincham Town Hall was designated as its headquarters.
However, as the area continued to grow, the Local Government Act of 1972 lead to the abolishment the Altrincham Borough Council and instead, in 1974, the Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council was formed.
Duties were transferred to Trafford Town Hall in Sale and thus, after just 37 years of council operation, Altrincham Town Hall ceased to be the local seat of Government.
finding new purpose
Following the re organisation of the local government in 1974, administrative duties were slowly transferred and phased out of Altrincham Town Hall. However, the building was still utilised by Traffrod Council for smaller regional committee meetings, public consultations and community events and gatherings.
In 2005, the building was closed to undergo an extensive programme of restoration to modernize the interior .
Reopening in 2006, the restoration enabled the town hall to serve as a venue for marriages and civil partnership ceremonies. The historic, oak panelled council chamber became a highly popular, picturesque backdrop for local couples.
Following the restoration, the grounds around the hall were also enhanced in an attempt to reinforce its' standing as a local landmark. On the 9th of May 2008, a statue depicting a market trader , sculpted by Colin Spofforth , was unveiled outside the town hall by the Mayor of Trafford, Councillor Bernard Sharp. This was followed by the installation of a commemorative stone celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in the spring of 2012.
declining use &
a threat of disposal
While the hall hosted events & civic groups following the restoration, it was managed remotely by Trafford Council and lacked a dedicated, on-site team. Over time, the building grew increasigly expensive for the local authority to run.
By the early 2020s, it sat largely vacant, under-booked and unusued by the community.
Following the Covid 19 pandemic, Trafford Council faced a massive budget deficit and so, in late 2022, put Altrincham Town Hall on a 'strategic asset disposal' list.
The council planned to sell the building to a private company, putting it under threat of becoming compltely shut off from the public, or even demolished to become a car park.
community
rescue campaign
The threat of privitisation caused immediate outrage in the local community.
In 2023, a petition to keep Altrincham Town Hall in community hands was created.
The petition was signed by over 2,000 residents and backed by local politicians and heritage groups.
Trafford Council was forced to backtrack.
The council agreed to pull the commercial bid and, instead, open a new tendering agreement exclusively for local community and cultural organisations.
ALTY TOWN HALL TODAY
With news of the possibility of keeping this gorgeous building in the hands of the community, our founding directors put together a bid to transform Altrincham Town Hall into a place for creativity, culture and community, operating the building as 'Oyez Arts' .
In early 2024, the winner of the bid and thus, new steward of the town hall was announced.
The doors were opened again, and the community was welcomed back inside by Oyez Arts.
For more information about how we are running Alty Town Hall today, visit the 'about us' page below.