Town Hall restoration project receives prestigious award

Work was carried out by local firms and craftspeople

- By DAVID COOPER Bugle correspondent

THE Victorian Society's Birmingham & West Midlands Group has announced its tenth annual Conservation Award made to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council for their project at West Bromwich Town Hall and Library.

The restoration of the historic community buildings was completed by the people, for the people. The award is sponsored by the Birmingham based, family-run company Hortons’ Estate, and the 2024 award recognises the restoration of the striking Grade II hall, designed by Alexander and Henman architects, and opened in 1874. The Central Library followed, constructed by Trow & Son of Wednesbury in 1907, as a gift to the people of West Bromwich from the astonishingly generous Scottish-American philanthropist and industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, who endowed 660 libraries in the United Kingdom alone. He is also known as a founder of the local Express and Star newspaper in the 1880s.

Before external and internal restoration, the buildings were in a state of disrepair, with the windows, plaster and terracotta all needing attention. The roof had long-standing weather-related issues and much of the original timber needed replacement, including its detailing, to enhance the roofs durability whilst preserving its original design.