Luton’s Grade II-listed Town Hall steeped in history
Luton’s original Town Hall, built in 1846, was destroyed by fire during a riot by ex-servicemen on Peace Day, July 19, 1919.
The building’s remains were demolished and in 1922 the statue ‘Peace’. inscribed with the names of dead servicemen from the Great War, was unveiled.
This war memorial still stands in front of the current Town Hall, which was opened by the Duke of Kent on October 28, 1936.
Seven million bricks were used on the steel-framed building, which is clad in Portland stone. It has many typical Art Deco features, but is described as neoclassical due to the contrast between classical and modern styles.
In 1998, the Town Hall became a Grade II listed building “of special architectural or historical interest”.-