Dronfield Civic Hall

File:Dronfield High Street.02.jpg

Following significant population growth, largely associated with the coal mining industry, a local board of health was established in Dronfield in 1861.{{cite web|url= http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/8901/rec/1 |title= Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire|year= 1912 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209203448/http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/8901/rec/1 |archive-date=9 December 2014| access-date=12 July 2024}} The local board decided to commission modest offices abutting the south side of the High Street close to the corner with Church Street. The three-storey structure, which became known as the Town Hall Buildings, formed part of a terrace of properties designed in the neoclassical style, built in stone and completed in 1877. It featured an elaborate entrance with a round-headed opening flanked by pilasters and brackets supporting a cornice and an entablature inscribed with the words "Town Hall". It was used as a magistrates' court, a mechanics' institute, and a meeting venue. The ground floor has since been converted to retail use.{{cite book |title=Dronfield Conservation Area Character Statement |date=2000 |publisher=North East Derbyshire District Council |url=https://www.dronfield.gov.uk/uploads/dronfield-character-statement-2000-pt-1.pdf |page=16|access-date=12 July 2024}}

After the local board was succeeded by Dronfield Urban District Council in 1894,{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10109292|title=Dronfield UD|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=12 July 2024}} the council initially used the Town Hall Buildings for offices, but in the 1930s, sought larger premises and chose to acquire Dronfield Manor, which dated back to the early 18th century.{{London Gazette|issue=38974|page=3757|date= 21 July 1950}}{{NHLE|desc= The DCC Library |num= 1040034 |access-date=12 July 2024}} The manor continued to serve as the offices of Dronfield Urban District Council for another four decades,{{London Gazette|issue=44204|page=13889|sup=y|date= 23 December 1966}} but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged North East Derbyshire District Council was formed in 1974.{{cite book|title=Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70|publisher=The Stationery Office Ltd|isbn=0-10-547072-4|year=1997}} After Dronfield Town Council was formed, shortly thereafter, it established its offices in council-owned property at No. 25 High Street.{{cite web|url= https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1974/2044/schedule/made |title= The Local Authorities Etc. (Miscellaneous Provision) (No. 5) Order 1974|publisher=Legislation.co.uk|date=4 December 1974| access-date=12 July 2024}}

Meanwhile, also in the 1970s, the council developed the area around Eldon Croft at the north end of Farwater Lane.{{cite web|url= https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=53.3016&lon=-1.4756&layers=6&b=1&o=100&marker=53.3016,-1.4756 |title=Ornance Survey Map|year=1900| access-date=12 July 2024}} Various buildings, including a candle maker, a cobbler's and public house known as The Mason's Arms were demolished to make way for a small square surrounded by shops: this became known as Dronfield Civic Centre.{{cite web|url=https://her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monument/MDR15584 |title= Farwater Lane (site of), High Street, Dronfield|publisher=Derbyshire Historic Environment Record| access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://picturethepast.org.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/dcne000281/posterid/dcne000281.html |title=Old Farwater Lane, Dronfield|publisher=Picture the Past| access-date=12 July 2024}} As part of Dronfield Civic Centre, a small single-storey civil hall was erected on the north side of the square. It was a timber-clad building with a recessed entrance facing onto the Dronfield Civic Centre Approach Road. It featured a small rockery in front of the entrance.{{cite web|url= https://picturethepast.org.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/dcne001046/posterid/dcne001046.html |title= Dronfield Civic Hall, Dronfield|year=1998|publisher=Picture the Past| access-date=12 July 2024}}

In the mid-1990s, it was decided to demolish the old civic hall, and to redevelop the north side of Dronfield Civic Centre to create a more substantial community events venue.{{cite web |title=Who we are & what we do |url=https://www.dronfield.gov.uk/the-council |website=Dronfield Town Hall |access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://picturethepast.org.uk/image-library/image-overview/poster/dcne001054/posterid/dcne001054.html |title= Construction of new Dronfield Civic Hall|year= 1999|publisher=Picture the Past| access-date=12 July 2024}} The new building was designed in the neoclassical style, built in red brick with stone dressings and was officially opened on 14 December 1999. The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage of seven bays facing onto Dronfield Civic Centre. The fifth bay featured a portico formed by two pairs of Doric order columns supporting an entablature. The ground floor was faced in sandstone and most of the bays on both floors were fenestrated with casement windows. Internally, the building contained offices for the town council and a council chamber, along with a large assembly hall capable of seating up to 210 people.{{cite web |title=Civic Hall @ Civic Centre |url=https://www.dronfield.gov.uk/civic-hall |website=Dronfield Town Council |access-date=12 July 2024}} The assembly hall subsequently became a popular venue for concerts and theatrical performances.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/sheffield-schoolboy-gearing-up-for-lead-role-in-musical-444530 |title=Sheffield schoolboy gearing up for lead role in musical|date=13 May 2017|newspaper=The Star| access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite news|url= https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/derbyshire-musical-theatre-group-wins-rights-to-revived-show-anything-goes-after-london-run-3856073 |title= Derbyshire musical theatre group wins rights to revived show Anything Goes after London run|date=30 September 2022| newspaper=Derbyshire Times| access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite news|url= https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/little-shop-of-horrors-will-be-presented-by-chesterfield-operatic-society-in-a-new-venue-4169150 |title= Little Shop Of Horrors will be presented by Chesterfield Operatic Society in a new venue|date=23 June 2023|newspaper=Derbyshire Times| access-date=12 July 2024}}

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Category:City and town halls in Derbyshire

Category:Dronfield

Category:Government buildings completed in 1999