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Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End is being restored to its original grade II* listed condition and will re-open its doors as a fully-fledged Arts Centre in 2022. The £30m investment will create a modern day, future-proofed Arts Centre with a number of flexible performance and event spaces, workspace and hospitality offerings.
Managed and operated by cultural place-making and regeneration specialists, The TIME + SPACE Co, Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre will be a creative hub that provides cutting edge facilities in a welcoming environment for people to work, socialise and enjoy for generations to come.
Our goal is to support a wide range of creative disciplines in one multi-use venue, creating a dynamic hub for the community and establishing itself as a leading Arts Centre that welcomes all and celebrates our diverse community through art, performance and unique experiences.
The timeline below shows how the building has hosted a number of globally significant events from across politics, sport, music, film, theatre and more. This forms part of the Town Hall’s illustrious history and has provided a remarkable foundation for the local community and those further afield to continue this wonderful legacy into the future.
Hornsey Council purchased a plot of land adjacent to the Broadway.
A competition was held by the Council to find an architect to oversee the building of their new offices in Crouch End. Reginald Uren’s design won the architectural competition out of over 200 entries.
RIBA Assessor Charles Cowles Voysey wrote the following appraisal of Uren’s design; ‘the front elevation has dignity and definite civic character. It is cleverly designed to make the best of the difficult shape of the forecourt, and it will have an interesting view of The Broadway.’
Uren was awarded the RIBA bronze award naming Hornsey Town Hall the best building in London of that year.
The Duke and Dutchess of Kent attended the official opening of Hornsey Town Hall. The Duke was introduced to a guard of honour formed by members of the British Legion of Muswell Hill and Hornsey.
The hall became home to council functions including public libraries, education, public works, finance, housing and town planning.
The Hornsey civil defence service volunteers stood outside the town hall as war was announced.
Victory was won by lightweight Dave Crowley over Bombardier Ken Barrett in a boxing match held in the Assembly Hall.
Hornsey Town Hall was central to post war celebrations. A victory parade marched along Crouch End Broadway. An estimate of 80% of buildings in Hornsey were damaged or destroyed but fortunately Hornsey Town Hall escaped any damage.
War prisoner courts were held in The Mayors Chamber.
The General Election results were announced on the Committee Room balcony. The event was filmed by the B.B.C.
Big Band dances were held on Saturday nights. Harry Pitch (the harmonica player best known for playing the theme tune to Last of the Summer Wine) along with his band had a residency and played until the 1960’s.
The union jack was flown at half mast at the death of the king.
EMI used HTH for live recordings 1956-1957.
The hall was temporarily closed due to cracks found in the outside of the assembly hall – it was found to be subsidence.
A concert on Valentine’s Day starred local Muswell Hill group The Ray Davies Quartet, who would go on to become The Kinks. Davies has referred to this show at Hornsey Town Hall as their first important gig.
Councillors held a meeting and decided that they were going to move their headquarters to Wood Green. Borough 31, consisting of Tottenham, Hornsey and Wood Green were to be called Haringey. The hall was to be used as a venue for music, talks, theatre and broadcasts.
Rebellion and protest was in the air. Hornsey College of Art staged a sit in and Hornsey Town Hall was graffitied by Stuart Christie who wrote ‘Paris today – Hornsey Tomorrow’ across the walls. The council had it removed the following day but a trace of it remained for many years.
Compere and the Pirate Radio DJ John Peel presented the Liverpool scene, a poetry rock band.
The Kinks, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull played concerts at the town hall.
Pink Fairies and Pretty Things were supported by Queen at one of their first ever gigs.
Hornsey High School and Weston Park held their speech day.
Dexy Midnight Runners played a concert.
Dennis Brown played a concert.
Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein) spoke at a packed public meeting.
The finance department agreed it would be too costly to keep the town hall open as a working building so it was to be closed.
Princess Diana visited 1930’s Public Health Clinic in the HTH Car Park to open an HIV Centre within it.
“Peep Show” title sequence for Channel 4’s BAFTA winning series was filmed outside the hall. The first of several high profile film and tv shows to be filmed that has since earned HTH a reputation as an iconic film location.
Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre was started by ANA – the building was used for Silent Discos, Yoga, Offices, Gallery space and community events.
Many bids were made for the future of Hornsey Town Hall. FEC (Far Eastern Consortium) applied for planning permission to restore the building and open a hotel, arts centre and 146 flats on the site. The Arts Centre was to be FEC’s top priority with a focus to keep community and the arts at the heart of the building.
Hornsey Town Hall was confirmed to be restored and reopened in 2021/2 as a “future-proofed, modern arts centre” to be curated and operated by The Time + Space Co. the urban regeneration specialist.
CREATE event is held to celebrate the future of Hornsey Town Hall. The doors of the Town Hall are then closed in July and Ardmore, the appointed contractor, starts the restoration.
Hornsey Council purchased a plot of land adjacent to the Broadway.
A competition was held by the Council to find an architect to oversee the building of their new offices in Crouch End. Reginald Uren’s design won the architectural competition out of over 200 entries.
RIBA Assessor Charles Cowles Voysey wrote the following appraisal of Uren’s design; ‘the front elevation has dignity and definite civic character. It is cleverly designed to make the best of the difficult shape of the forecourt, and it will have an interesting view of The Broadway.’
Uren was awarded the RIBA bronze award naming Hornsey Town Hall the best building in London of that year.
The Duke and Dutchess of Kent attended the official opening of Hornsey Town Hall. The Duke was introduced to a guard of honour formed by members of the British Legion of Muswell Hill and Hornsey.
The hall became home to council functions including public libraries, education, public works, finance, housing and town planning.
The Hornsey civil defence service volunteers stood outside the town hall as war was announced.
Victory was won by lightweight Dave Crowley over Bombardier Ken Barrett in a boxing match held in the Assembly Hall.
Hornsey Town Hall was central to post war celebrations. A victory parade marched along Crouch End Broadway. An estimate of 80% of buildings in Hornsey were damaged or destroyed but fortunately Hornsey Town Hall escaped any damage.
War prisoner courts were held in The Mayors Chamber.
The General Election results were announced on the Committee Room balcony. The event was filmed by the B.B.C.
Big Band dances were held on Saturday nights. Harry Pitch (the harmonica player best known for playing the theme tune to Last of the Summer Wine) along with his band had a residency and played until the 1960’s.
The union jack was flown at half mast at the death of the king.
EMI used HTH for live recordings 1956-1957.
The hall was temporarily closed due to cracks found in the outside of the assembly hall – it was found to be subsidence.
A concert on Valentine’s Day starred local Muswell Hill group The Ray Davies Quartet, who would go on to become The Kinks. Davies has referred to this show at Hornsey Town Hall as their first important gig.
Councillors held a meeting and decided that they were going to move their headquarters to Wood Green. Borough 31, consisting of Tottenham, Hornsey and Wood Green were to be called Haringey. The hall was to be used as a venue for music, talks, theatre and broadcasts.
Rebellion and protest was in the air. Hornsey College of Art staged a sit in and Hornsey Town Hall was graffitied by Stuart Christie who wrote ‘Paris today – Hornsey Tomorrow’ across the walls. The council had it removed the following day but a trace of it remained for many years.
Compere and the Pirate Radio DJ John Peel presented the Liverpool scene, a poetry rock band.
The Kinks, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull played concerts at the town hall.
Pink Fairies and Pretty Things were supported by Queen at one of their first ever gigs.
Hornsey High School and Weston Park held their speech day.
Dexy Midnight Runners played a concert.
Dennis Brown played a concert.
Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein) spoke at a packed public meeting.
The finance department agreed it would be too costly to keep the town hall open as a working building so it was to be closed.
Princess Diana visited 1930’s Public Health Clinic in the HTH Car Park to open an HIV Centre within it.
“Peep Show” title sequence for Channel 4’s BAFTA winning series was filmed outside the hall. The first of several high profile film and tv shows to be filmed that has since earned HTH a reputation as an iconic film location.
Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre was started by ANA – the building was used for Silent Discos, Yoga, Offices, Gallery space and community events.
Many bids were made for the future of Hornsey Town Hall. FEC (Far Eastern Consortium) applied for planning permission to restore the building and open a hotel, arts centre and 146 flats on the site. The Arts Centre was to be FEC’s top priority with a focus to keep community and the arts at the heart of the building.
Hornsey Town Hall was confirmed to be restored and reopened in 2021/2 as a “future-proofed, modern arts centre” to be curated and operated by The Time + Space Co. the urban regeneration specialist.
CREATE event is held to celebrate the future of Hornsey Town Hall. The doors of the Town Hall are then closed in July and Ardmore, the appointed contractor, starts the restoration.
Head down to the front of Hornsey Town Hall for the ultimate #TBT ...our fantastic @hthartscentre timeline! Read ab… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1195031575760691205