The town hall, built 1860 in the High Street, was designed in a decorative Gothic style by Edward Buckton Lamb, a London architect. Rooms were provided for a library, and for the Mechanics Institute which was a principal source of adult education. The town council held all its meetings there. A large room at the rear, the Sessions Hall, served as the magistrates court until1938. After 1950 the building was allowed to deteriorate until it was closed in 1972. Despite it being listed as Grade II, Dacorum Borough in 1975 planned to demolish the building. Huge public protest prevented this, and after 1980 enabled ownership of the building to be transferred to a Charity Trust. Volunteers gradually restored the building to full working order by 2000. (2000)
Author: G Patterson