Royton Town Hall

After delays and false starts caused by Covid and tendering problems, work is now underway on the restoration and remodelling of our iconic town hall. We recently went to visit, talk to the contractors and see how works are progressing. Marie and I will be visiting the town hall on a regular basis and will update pictures and information after each visit.

Here is a series of photos taken on Monday 15th May 2023, and we will be posting more as the project progresses. Click on photos to enlarge.

The three pictures above are in the “Red Room” which was the origional Royton Urban District Council meeting room. The old carpets have been taken up so the heating pipes and electrical wiring can be replaced. The old flock wall paper will be removed, the walls made good and new wallpaper put up. The exact type and colour etc. of the new wallpaper has yet to be decided in consulation with Royton Local History Society and the architect. http://www.rlhs.co.uk/

The photos above and below were taken on the first landing of the main staircase, the doors used to lead into the 1950s extention which has now almost been completely removed. When finished this will be a large bay type window in the style of the origional which was lost during the building of the 1950s extention.

Above is the ceiling in one of the first floor meeting rooms. Its hard to see here, but there are two false ceilings probably fitted during the 1950s and 1970s hiding the origional ceiling. The ongoing works will see these ‘modern’ false ceilings removed and the origional renovated, restored and back on show.

These photos show the large room in the middle of the first floor looking from the town hall towards the library side. The old carpets and assorted flooring has been removed ready for works on the power, light, heating and decoration. The orgional roof lights have long been blocked off and sealed up. These will be replaced with new units allowing natural light back into the building.

The two photos on the left show the origional ceilings in the library side. Again, all false ceilings are being removed and the origional repaired and restored as they were origionally intended. The photo on the right shows a large area of damp which will be repaied and fully restored.

The old reception will be removed and a new lift installed just behind what was the counter. The mains stairs will be renovated and restored.

The last three photos show the clock tower with it’s new copper cladding. The clock needs some new parts which are being manufactured by our specialist clock maker. The clock will remain off as building works continue in and around the clock tower. The roof works will include stripping off all the old roof tiles, repairing any damaged timbers and a new slate roof.

Update July 2003 – Update December 2003 – Update July 2024

Back in 2013 town hall clock was badly damaged when it’s winding weight lines snapped. I’ll post some photos and information about this shortly. In the meantime below is a photo of the clock movement shortly after we had it repaired.

The town hall clock was always hand wound from first being installed in the 1880s right up to the day the winding weights fell into the cellar in 2013. The photo above shows the weights after falling into the cellar, you can see how they smashed the concrete floor from the force of their fall!

From a report we commissioned from our specialist clock contractor.

“This is a most wonderful example of the workmanship of Gillett and Bland and is dated

1881.

The clock installation consists of a hour striking clock movement fitted with Lord

Grimthorpe’s, double three legged, gravity escapement. The going train is fitted with

epicyclic maintaining power and the clock movement is still hand wound. The clock is

housed in a glazed, wooden case which is in very good condition.

The movement drives three, 7ft diameter glazed skeleton dials and one 4ft, 6”, skeleton

dials. The three larger dials have been recently restored, however the smaller back dial has not.

The clock movement is in very good condition as are the dial motion works and bevel

gearing.

Because the clock is hand wound it may be prudent to replace the existing

weight lines as there is no record of when the existing set were installed.

I do not know who is responsible for the winding of the clock movement or keeping the

clock to time, but who ever is responsible should be commended for keeping the clock in

such good condition.”

The clock mechanism was in very good condition having been well looked after for over 130 years and did not need much in the way of repairs, but a new electrical winding device was fitted. However, the clock still retains the original pendulum. See below.

Original pendulum complete with precision lead pipe regulator!

The photo above shows the original winding drums fitted with new steel ropes and connected to the new electrical winding unit.

Here are photos of the clock faces from inside the clock tower. They are all driven from the mechanism shown at bottom right.

Was the small clock face at the rear of the town hall made deliberately smaller so people ion Shaw couldn’t see it? Well it is a good tale, but its more likely due to the construction of the roof at the rear which doesn’t have enough room for a full sized clock face to be fitted. But, you never know!

Here are two photos of the bell and bell hammer, these are being cleaned and serviced and the clock tower will be fitted with new internal LED lighting.

We will be back soon with an ongoing record of progress in the town hall and with other Royton related articles which we hope you will find interesting.

Steve and Marie