Wolverhampton's Architectural Heritage

Bilston Town Hall

Bilston Town Hall 1900 (F1/BIL/E/1b)

Bilston Town Hall, situated at the junction of Church Street and Lichfield Street, was built in 1872, designed by architects Bidlake and Lovatt.

Soon after the new town hall was completed a free library and reading room were opened at a cost of £1,700 and further extensions took place in 1882.
Night classes were held at the town hall teaching such subjects as science and languages prior to their move to the new Technical School and School of Art in Mount Pleasant, Bilston. The library moved to a new location in 1937.

Town Hall Bilston 1906 (F1/BIL/E/2)

In 1906 there were problems with the building due to the fact that it was sited upon old coal pit workings. The building had to be shored up with timber as it was considered to be about to collapse.

Removing coal from underneath Bilston Town Hall 1906-1907 (F1/BIL/I/1)

Coal had to be removed from under the town hall and new foundations for the building put into place. This work on the building was a success, though 60 years later when Bilston became part of the Borough of Wolverhampton, the building ceased to be the headquarters of local government in the town.