Barry Town Hall

Image: © Jaggery Taken: 28 Feb 2013

Viewed across King Square. The following chronology is based on information shown on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website. This site was woodland until the end of the nineteenth century. 1900 Maes y Cwm Quarry was excavated on the site of nearby Central Park. 1903 The council acquired the quarry site, which was later filled in enabling the building of Central Park and the library. In the same year, a competition was held for the design of a new block of offices for Barry Urban District Council. The Council appealed to the Andrew Carnegie Trust for a grant to enable a public library for the town to be built. 1906 The library was completed and officially opened on March 1st by The Earl of Plymouth. 1908 Town hall completed at a cost of £7,488, and officially opened on April 22nd. The provision of the clock was not part of the same contract and was supplied at a cost of £329 10s. 1910 Town Hall Square was named King Square. 1939 A Charter of Incorporation was granted and Barry Borough Council was created with its administrative centre at the town hall. This charter authorised the council to appoint a mayor of Barry for the first time. 1974 Local government reorganisation led to the formation of the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council with its administrative centre here at the town hall. 1981 The Council Chamber at the town hall was used for the last time. The mayor and council then moved to the new Civic Office in Holton Road. 2001 Barry library relocated to a temporary home at Barry Leisure Centre. 2005 Work began on the redevelopment of the town hall, King Square and Central Park. 2006 The mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Council moved into the refurbished town hall, using the former council chamber as the mayor's parlour. 2007 The new county library http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3356189 and town hall were officially opened on January 4th.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0