After ten years of disuse, and following an extensive refit, Stoke Newington Town Hall reopens this week. Ahead of the official launch event, Londonist took a tour around the place.
Built in the 1930s by Stoke Newington Metropolitan Borough Council, the town hall is a mixture of Renaissance and Art Deco, and inside and out is one of the more handsome buildings in the area, making its fall into disuse and disrepair even more galling.
After surviving WW2, despite hits on nearby sites (one rumour posits that the roof was painted green and populated by a cow to make it seem a part of nearby Clissold Park), it became one of the area's more popular entertainment venues, a place for locals to do the Charleston and the jitterbug. But its popularity dwindled and it eventually closed in 1999.
The Town Hall reopens in February to the public, but from 27th-30th January the council will be showing off their new venue with a showcase called Reveal. After that, it's available to hire for functions, business meetings, and parties: more information at the Council website.
Thanks to James Willsher of Hackney council for arranging the visit.
