Hornsey Town Hall is in the centre of Crouch End, North London. The architect Reginald Uren won a competition, beating 217 other entrants for the chance to design this important public building. His scheme was for an ultra-modern building, with clean lines breaking with the Victorian classicism which characterised many town halls around the country. He avoided excessive ornament, using sculptures (visible on the front of many residents will remember as Barclays Bank, once the Gas showroom, and the old electricity showroom opposite) marble and metalwork to soften the geometry of the buildings. The building was opened in 1935 and won an RIBA bronze award,
After 1966, when most of the council functions were moved to Wood Green Town Hall, Hornsey Town Hall fell into disrepair. The grand council chamber was sealed off due to concerns about asbestos.
The Town Hall site has since undergone redevelopment, and Hornsey Town Hall has become part of a mixed-use complex. The restored landmark now includes a boutique hotel, public arts and community spaces, cafés, and new apartments built around the original building.
Our virtual tour captures the building in its earlier, unrestored state, it serves as a unique record of its architectural character before its more recent transformation.
Most Crouch End residents never had the chance to see inside this amazing building before it was redeveloped.
Eye Revolution created a set of virtual tours which allows visitors to look around the Town Hall. They can view around the council chamber and see the view previous mayors would have seen (albeit in a state of decay), they can also tour the theatre including backstage, dressing room and the green room, the old planning application map room, ticket office, foyer and even a couple of loos!
The shoot was fascinating – Eye Revolution founder Will Pearson says “Being able to explore the Town Hall in its current state of decay was visually fascinating. It seemed a bit like the Marie Celeste – abandoned whilst still in use, with old building planning applications just lying around gathering dust – including the one for Hornsey Lane Bridge (known locally as ‘Suicide Bridge’). I found an old (full) beer bottle which looked like it dated from when the Town Hall was still in use. It can be seen on the sill in the dressing room.”
Click the link to explore inside Hornsey Town Hall and see inside this gem of Art Deco architecture.
Hornsey Town Hall Virtual Tour FAQs
Yes – in certain areas in person. Following redevelopment, Hornsey Town Hall has reopened as part of a mixed-use complex in Crouch End. While the restored building now includes apartments, a hotel and community spaces, our virtual tour offers a rare look inside the Town Hall as it appeared before restoration.
The high resolution tour captures the Town Hall before redevelopment, revealing its council chamber, theatre, dressing rooms, foyer and backstage areas. It records the building’s Art Deco details and atmosphere during its years of disuse.
The virtual tour serves as an important visual record of one of London’s finest Art Deco civic buildings before its transformation. It preserves a piece of history that can no longer be experienced in person.