Published: Sunday, 25th January, 2009 4:00pm

Slough Town Hall is 'historic'

by Aamina Masud

Comments (11) | Print | Email

SLOUGH'S Town Hall could soon be saved from the bulldozers.

English Heritage has said the 1930s building, off Bath Road, used as Slough Borough Council's headquarters, is of ‘historic interest' and recommended that it should be listed as a Grade-II building.

If the site is listed then it will mean the building will not be knocked down under current plans to transform it into a housing development.

English Heritage also received a 800-strong petition in support of its listing.

Shadow arts minister Ed Vaizey said: "This building has an indisputable claim to Grade-II listed status. I shall be writing to culture minister Barbara Follett as soon as possible to ask her to accept English Heritage's recommendation and confirm the listing."

The news was announced this week and has been praised by Campaign to Save Slough Heritage.

Founding member Martin Gibbons said: "This is fantastic news. It means we are one stop closer to saving our iconic building. The building is of national importance - it was made by the best architect of its time and it's in great condition. I once heard someone saying that selling the Town Hall is a bit like selling off the family silver and I agree. We are proud of Slough's heritage and our beautiful Town Hall."

The group also argues that the building could become a new home for Slough Museum, and the council chamber could be licensed for civil weddings.

The building, which first opened in 1937, was built in a neo-classical Swedish style with Art Deco influences.

It was designed by renowned architects CH James and S Rowland Pierce. Last year The Observer ran a search for the missing golden key to the Town Hall's main door. It was eventually traced back to Thelma Long, 79, of Windsor, whose late husband was the grandson of Mrs AG Trevener, who officially opened the Town Hall with the key.