Hidden Horsham - Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall is located in Market Square

A property has been on this site since at least 1648 when it was referred to as a 'market house' whose loft was used as an arms store during the insurrection of that year

In 1721 Eversfield and Arthur Ingram, Lord Irwin, funded a new Portland Stone building of two storeys with a three bay entrance facade to the front and five bays to the side. The ground floor was used for a butter and poultry market

The upper floors were used for holding quarter sessions and assizes in addtion to borough meetings

By the early 19^th century the building was in a dangerous condition. In 1812 the building was repaired and enlarged by the 11^th Duke of Norfolk at a cost of £8000. The Norman style facade replaced the existing one complete with the three coats of arms (see below), battlements and turrets. The open ground floor was enclosed at the same time for use as a lower court room

In 1820 the clock was added but some 10 years later the building was again in a state of disrepair. A large bell, now in the care of Horsham Museum, was also added in 1820. There were plans to build a better court house & town hall in the Carfax at the site of the bandstand but these never came to anything. It continued to be used for quarter sessions and other official business as well as being the home of the fire engine. The three cells underneath were used until the police station was built in 1846

In 1867, in the absence of a a town council, a public meeting was held to decide the fate of the town hall. The hall was accepted as a gift to the town from the Duke on a 99 year lease at a cost of £1 per annum. Private subsciptions raised £288.15s.0d and a mortgage was taken out with the Horsham Building Society

In 1888 the 15^th Duke sold the building to the town for £25. The structure, except for the front wall as shown in the photograph, was demolished and rebuilt. The Norman facade was increased in height. It was then used for meetings of the urban district council and later the district council. Quarter sessions were held there until 1939 and it was used as a law court as recently as 1974

On April 1, 1949 John George Haigh appeared before 10 Sussex magistrates here charged with the Acid Bath Murders. The hearing took two days but the main trial took place on July 18th 1949 in Lewes. Haigh was held at the Police Station in Barttelot Road

The front wall bears three coats of arms as shown below. The Duke of Norfolks are the left and in the centre is the royal coat of arms. On the right are Horsham's arms derived from from two families historically linked to the town. The de Broase family from Chesworth Farm and the de Mowbrays. In 1298 John de Mowbray married a de Broase heiress and 100 years later Thomas de Mowbray was created the first Duke of Norfolk

Around 1958 the clock was replaced. By 1976 it had stopped working for a month when quotes for repair were received. The quote was in excess of £1000 comprising £385 for the actual repair not including the electrician's fees. The striking mechanism was to be renewed at a cost of £600 allow the chimes to be heard again. A further £70 would silence the bells between 11:00 PM and 07:00 AM. This was considered excessive by the council and public support was requested in support of this expenditure. Source: West Sussex County Times, September 24^th 1976 Some months later the clock cam back to life again when local watchmaker Terry Callaghan wound the mechanism up. He estimated that another £40 - 50 would be needed to correct the problems with the mechanism

Today the Old Town Hall lower floors are used for flea markets and the upper floors are the Horsham Register Office. Plans are being discussed to change the use of the lower floors to a restuarant

The photos below show Market Square and the old Town Hall in c1900 and 1923 respectively

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

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