French Renaissance whispers from the facade of Holborn Hall. Holborn Hall stands here a municipal building. It is located on High Holborn in London. This Grade II listed building has stories etched into its stones.
Holborn Hall’s story began as a vision for the community. The initial structure on the corner of Gray’s Inn Road and Clerkenwell Road was commissioned by the Holborn District Board of Works. This was on behalf of the Vestry of St Andrew Holborn Above Bars. Lewis Isaacs designed it in an Italianate style. Brown & Robinson of Finsbury built it. It was completed in 1879.
As the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn emerged in 1900, expansion was considered. Adapting the old building was deemed too difficult. Holborn Hall was used as a concert hall during the first half of the 20th century. It was sadly demolished in the 1960s.
Instead, a decision was made to extend an existing building on High Holborn. William Rushworth designed it in the French Renaissance style. It opened as a public library in 1894. The original design featured a narrow frontage with four bays facing High Holborn. Arched entrances stood flanked by Corinthian pilasters on the ground floor. Oriel windows graced the first and second floors. Smaller windows marked the third and fourth floors with an oculus above.
The expansion of Holborn Hall commenced with a ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. Mayor William Smith officiated on October 27, 1906. Septimus Warwick and H. Austen Hall crafted the design for a new central wing and a western wing. These mirrored the existing eastern wing in a symmetrical style. John Greenwood Limited carried out the construction. The Lord Mayor, Sir George Truscott, officially opened the new Holborn Hall on October 13, 1908.
A wrought-iron balcony became a focal point. The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts created it. It bore the borough coat of arms. It was installed in the middle of the central section on the first floor. Inside Holborn Hall, important rooms took shape. A courtroom was situated on the ground floor. The council chamber was at the rear of the building on the first floor.
Holborn Hall became a stage for international dialogue. The First International Syndicalist Congress convened here. European and Latin American syndicalist organizations met from September 27 to October 2 in 1913.
During the Second World War, Holborn Hall played a role in galvanizing support. A plaque commemorated the borough’s contribution to Wings for Victory Week. It was placed on the wall inside the right-hand doorway in 1943. Another plaque honored their efforts for Salute the Soldier Week. It was erected there the following year.
The story of Holborn Hall took another turn in 1965. The enlarged London Borough of Camden was formed. Holborn Hall ceased to be the seat of local government. The building was adapted for alternative uses. These included a restaurant on the ground floor and offices above. In September 2019, a private investor acquired the freehold ownership of Holborn Hall for £22 million.
Today, as you stand before Holborn Hall, imagine the bustling activity within its walls. From a library to a town hall, from international congresses to wartime commemorations, Holborn Hall has been a silent witness to the ebb and flow of history. Its French Renaissance facade serves as a reminder of the civic pride and community spirit. This has defined Holborn for over a century.