Old Town Hall, 196 High Street, Berkhamsted

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 21 Apr 2013

Grade II Listed former town hall. Completed in 1859 to a design by Edward Buckton Lamb replacing the 16th century 'Court House' and the Tudor market hall that burnt down in 1854. Consequently, until well into the 20th century the building was known as the Market House and Town Hall. It was extended in 1888-90. The clock was installed in 1897 in memory of Thomas Read, a former town surveyor. It ceased to be the local civic headquarters in 1938. During the Second World War it served as a canteen providing meals for people in need, particularly London evacuees. Home to a fishmonger's stall but becoming derelict Dacorum Borough Council proposed demolition in 1974. It was saved by local citizens and a new Trust was established in 1979. Restored by the Trust during the period 1982-1990, in 1983 it had been officially opened for commercial use as a shopping arcade called Lambs' Shops. Falling out of use, in 1998, it was leased to City Centre Restaurants and converted mostly to Caffè Uno, subsequently acquired in 2006 by Paramount Restaurants and in 2007 rebranded as Brasserie Chez Gérard. It became Carluccios in 2012 and the Copper House in 2019.

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