Stockport Town Hall

in July 1908. To commemorate the Royal visit, part of Heaton Lane, a main shopping street in the town, was renamed Prince's Street.cite book | last = Arrowsmith | first = Peter | authorlink = | title = Stockport: a History | date = 1997 | publisher = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council | location = Stockport | id = ISBN 0-905164-99-7 |pages = p 246] [cite book |last = Pevsner |first = Nikolaus |authorlink = Nikolaus Pevsner |coauthors = |title = The Buildings of England: Cheshire |year = 1971 |publisher = Penguin |location = London| id = ISBN 0-14-071042-6| pages = p 341] cite web| url = http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/communitypeopleliving/historyandheritage/buildingsandstructures/stockporttownhall/itshistory?a=5441| title = Stockport Town Hall - its history| accessdate = 2007-01-16| work = Stockport MBC web pages| publisher = Stockport MBC]

Council and committee meetings take place during the evening in three oak-panelled committee rooms and in a traditional Council Chamber. The chamber has elaborate plasterwork, brass chandeliers and decorative carvings on oak benches. The civic collection of silver, some of which dates from the 15th century, lines the wall of the corridor outside the chamber.

An imposing Italian marble entrance leads to the Edwardian Ballroom, which former poet laureate Sir John Betjeman described as "magnificent". This contains a Wurlitzer Organ, the largest of its type in Britain. The Wurlitzer, one of only 14 of its kind in the world, has been rebuilt to its original 1930s specifications adding to the appeal of this venue for musical events and to the popularity of regular tea dances. The town hall is the home of Stockport Symphony Orchestra, who perform classical concerts on a regular basis.

Stockport Town Hall was designated a Grade II listed building in 1975, [cite web |title=Stockport Town Hall |work=Images of England |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=210889&mode=quick |accessdate=2007-12-03] upgraded to Grade II* in September 2007.

ee also

*Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester

References