The Town Hall

Cadw's description

Location

Situated in the SE corner of Market Square.

History

Built as a market hall and town hall c1830. A jubilee memorial clock was installed in 1890 and the building was renovated in the 1950s when shopfronts were removed and sash windows inserted. The building is therefore altered but old photographs have not been found to show the previous appearance clearly, one shows the left side with an arched door framing the barometer and a shopfront, with 2 windows over which suggests that the building may have been altered on both floors. The 1844 tithe map shows long ranges each side of a long yard back to Parc-y-shwt, former lean-to covered stalls, of which fragments remain.

Exterior

Town hall, painted roughcast with slate hipped roof and ridge octagonal louvred lantern with lead ogee cap and weathervane. Tall 2-storey, 3-window range with pedimental-gabled projecting central bay with clock in tympanum. Band at first floor level. Very large small-paned sash windows to each floor, the outer panes half-width, additionally the ground floor has a narrow tall outer sash of 12 panes.
Centre doorway probably C20 with panelled architrave, pediment and panelled double doors. Barometer recessed in wall between windows to left; date stone above it of 1862.

Interior

Generally altered, but ground floor is single space with 2 early C19 iron columns and some slate paving. Late C19 market hall behind with thin iron trusses to roof. Painted board of 1836 with market tolls.

Reason for designation

Included as an early C19 town hall of Georgian type, the principal building in the centre of Fishguard.