County Hall, Taunton
{{short description|County building in Taunton, Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name =County Hall, Taunton
| native_name =
| image =Taunton- Somerset County Hall (geograph 5808424).jpg
| caption =County Hall in 2018
| locmapin =Somerset
| map_caption =
| coordinates ={{coord|51.0133|-3.1068|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| area =
| built =1935
| architect =E. Vincent Harris
| architecture =Neo-Georgian style
| governing_body =
| designation1 =Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =5 December 2000
| designation1_number =1246219
}}
County Hall is a municipal building in The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset, England. The structure, which is the offices and meeting place of Somerset Council, is a Grade II Listed building.{{cite web|title=A Block County Hall and Entrance Forecourt and Pavements|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1246219|website=National Heritage List for England|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=3 November 2016}}
History
During the early part of the 20th century Somerset County Council was based at the Shire Hall.{{cite web|url=https://www-somersetlive-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/shire-hall-taunton-fascinating-history-1443289.amp?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQA#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.somersetlive.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fsomerset-news%2Fshire-hall-taunton-fascinating-history-1443289|title=Shire Hall in Taunton: The fascinating history of this 162-year-old building that needs urgent repairs|date=11 April 2018|publisher=Somerset Live|accessdate=15 August 2019}} As the responsibilities of the county council increased significantly, county leaders decided to procure a more substantial county headquarters: the site they selected was open land just to the east of the old Shire Hall.{{cite web|url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/322367/124412/12/100730|title=Ordnance Survey Map|year=1930|accessdate=25 October 2020}}
The new building, which was designed by E. Vincent Harris in the municipal neo-Georgian style, was completed on 23 October 1935.{{cite web|url=https://hestories.info/somerset-architects-index.html?page=25|title=Somerset County Hall|publisher=Somerset architects index|accessdate=25 October 2020}} The design for the three-storey building involved a recessed concave main frontage of nine bays facing the corner of Park Street and The Crescent from which wings stretched back to the south west and south east; the central section featured a round headed doorway with coat of arms in the tympanum.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwEct-Id47cC&pg=PA73|title=Bristol|page=73|first1=Andrew|last1= Foyle|first2= Bridget |last2=Cherry|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0300104424}} It was constructed from English bond buff-coloured and pink bricks with the dressings in Portland stone. It was extended to the south in the 1960s to a design by Goodwin & Tatham to cover most of the open land to the west of The Crescent.
The Earl of Wessex visited County Hall and planted a tree to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award on 25 April 2007,{{cite web|url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/1305690.double-royal-visit-for-taunton/|title=Double Royal visit for Taunton|date=5 April 2007|publisher=Somerset County Gazette|accessdate=14 November 2020}} and, following the amalgamation of The Light Infantry into The Rifles in February 2007, a ceremony was held at which the Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour of the 6th Battalion (Somerset and Cornwall) The Light Infantry were placed in the entrance of County Hall in June 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/4448110.somerset-standards-unveiled/|title=Somerset standards unveiled|date=21 June 2009|publisher=Somerset County Gazette|accessdate=14 November 2020}}
In September 2013, the county council announced that it was considering a variety of options for the effective use of the building.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-24280606|title=Somerset County Council discusses County Hall future|date=26 September 2013|publisher=BBC|accessdate=14 November 2020}} After some debate, plans were announced for Taunton Deane Council to share County Hall in 2014{{cite news|last1=Blacklock|first1=Daisy|title=Green light for Taunton Deane Council move to County Hall|url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11421341.Green_light_for_Taunton_Deane_Council_move_to_County_Hall/|work=County Gazette|date=20 August 2014|accessdate=14 November 2020}} and a £10{{nbsp}}million programme of works to refurbish County Hall was completed in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-46537903|title=Somerset County Hall £10m repair bill branded 'obscene'|date=12 December 2018|publisher=BBC|accessdate=14 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17292128.councillor-hit-9-9million-refurb-county-hall-taunton/|title=Councillor hit out over £9.9million refurb of County Hall in Taunton|date=12 December 2018|publisher=Somerset County Gazette|accessdate=14 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-52832596|title=Somerset County Hall: Disused office space to be rented out|date=28 May 2020|publisher=BBC|accessdate=14 November 2020}}