Town Hall, Barry
The History of the Town Hall
Directions to the Town Hall (PDF)
1879 – Town Hall site still woodland.
1900 – Maes y Cwm Quarry excavated on the site
of Central Park.
1903 – The Council acquired the site of the
quarry, which was later filled in enabling the building of Central
Park and the Library.
1903 - A competition was held for the design of
a new block of offices for the Barry Urban District Council and in
the same year the Council appealed to the Andrew Carnegie Trust for
a grant to enable a public library for the Town to be built.
1906 –The Library was completed and officially
opened on 1 March by The Earl of Plymouth.
1908 – Town Hall completed at a cost of £7,488,
and officially opened on 22 April. The provision of the clock was
not part of the same contract and was supplied at a cost of
£329.10s.
1910 – Town Hall Square was named “King
Square”.
1939 – A Charter of Incorporation was granted
and Barry Borough Council was created with its administrative
centre at the Town Hall. This Charter authorised the Council to
appoint a Mayor of Barry for the first time.
1974 – Local Government Re-organisation led to
the formation of the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council with its
administrative centre at the Town Hall.
1981 – The Council Chamber at the Town Hall was
used for the last time as the Mayor and Council moved to the new
Civic Office in Holton Road.
2001 – Barry Library re-located to its
temporary home at Barry Leisure Centre.
2005 – Work commenced on the redevelopment of
the Town Hall, King Square and Central Park.
2006 – The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan
Council moved into the refurbished Town Hall, using the former
Council Chamber as the Mayor’s Parlour.
2007 – The new County Library and Town Hall officially
opened by the Mayor, Councillor Nic Hodges, on 4 January.