Town Hall Centre

Town Hall Centre
Market Square
Braintree
Essex
CM7 3YG

Tel 01376 557776
Fax 01376 344345
Email thc@braintree.gov.uk

The Town Hall Centre, a magnificent gift of the Courtauld family to the people of Braintree, forms an elegant setting for your function. We cater for all types of functions from Weddings and dinners to meetings, seminars, presentations, lectures and exhibitions.The splendid Committee Rooms and Chambers of this well appointed Georgian style building, with their rich woods and panelling, can add that special touch to almost any occasion.

The Town Hall Centre is set in the centre of Braintree Town, with easy access and parking facilities at the rear of the building including a public car park.

The Town Hall Centre is also home to the Art Gallery, which is available for exhibitions. The Gallery is recognised as the principal art venue for the District. It also houses the Districts main Tourist Information Centre.

Our courteous and friendly staff are here to help you ensure that your event runs as smoothly as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

History

The Town Hall’s foundation stone was laid by Mr G T Bartram on 16th October 1926 and the building was officially opened by the Rt Hon the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres PC, KT on 22 May 1928. Braintree’s great benefactor William Julian Courtauld (WJC) paid for the cost, which was in excess of £50,000.

The Town Hall stands on what was for many years the Fairfield and cattle market. In earlier, less fastidious times, it was also where victims were burnt at the stake, the last unfortunate, a protestant martyr, William Pygot, on March 28th 1555.

WJC engaged one of the foremost architects of the day, Vincent Harris and told him, ‘I only want the best’ and he was not disappointed. The foundations, floor and roof of this beautifully proportioned Georgian building are of reinforced concrete and this makes the building an early example of the use of this material in buildings. The building is faced with narrow sand-faced bricks from Holland with a band of Portland stone at first floor and eaves level.

The grand manor of the Town Hall did not stop at the Dutch brickwork, stone dado, plinth and cornice that delight the eye from the Market Place. The same extravagant care went into every corner, from the lonely figure on top of the bell tower whose message ‘Hold to the Truth’ goes unnoticed, the Renaissance style bell tower, decorated with the Braintree coat of arms and houses the bells which still chime today, to each individually decorated room.

The stairway to the first floor is overlooked by a stained glass window depicting the Braintree coat of arms on a banner held by the female figure of Truth, with a view of St Michael’s church beneath. Within the stained glass is a coffee pot, the mark of the artist George Kruger Gray. Columns either side of the staircase contain carved roundels, one representing farming and the other industry.

The council chamber is panelled in oak with an inlay of holly, and has 14 decorative frescoes, depicting important events in the town’s history. Such as, King John presenting the market charter, the Danes at the Battle of Maldon, the sailing of the Lyon and the Roman occupation, painted by Maurice Grieffenhagen RA.

The Chairman’s room has walnut panelling and the ceiling has a beautiful map of Essex painted by Henry Rushbury RA. At its four corners are the Royal Arms, the Arms of the See of Chelmsford and those of the Essex Regiment and Braintree. The committee rooms are panelled in Pear and downstairs the rooms are panelled in oak, elm, chestnut and Australian beanwood.

In its original glory, the car park at the rear had ornate iron railings that would have done justice to Buckingham Palace, but during World War II they were taken away and handed bomb shaped to Hitler.

The Town Hall housed the council offices from 1928 to 1981, when Braintree District Council built the new Causeway House premises in Bocking End. The building is now used for meetings, weddings, functions and houses an Art Gallery and the Towns Tourist Information centre.