Market, Court & Council

Standing majestically at the end of the High Street is Marlborough Town Hall. A dramatic mix of red brick and stone, complete with Doric columns, it was designed by local architect Charles Edwin Ponting and built between 1900 and 1902. Some form of Guildhall is thought to have stood at the east end of the High Street since the 13th century. That building or its successors were repaired in the 1570s and 1580s. In the 1630s a new guildhall or town hall was built incorporating a market house but it was destroyed in the Great Fire of Marlborough in 1653. That hall and its successors were supported by tall pillars, creating an arcade where markets were held. The hall above the market place was as a magistrate’s court and prison. It had another makeover in 1867 but by the end of the century it was clear the building was not fit for purpose. The decision was taken to demolish it – and not a moment too soon according to the local paper which described its demolition in 1900 as “A Death Trap Gone”, highlighting its poor construction and the risk of fire. In today’s Town Hall the courtroom is now used for events and ceremonies, but it still has a trapdoor leading to what were the cells. The Assembly Room is also a popular venue with its beautiful chandeliers and vaulted ceiling. The Council Chamber is still used by the Town Council for committee meetings.