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Handsworth Old Town Hall is located on the corner
of College Road and Slack Lane. The easiest for
parking is Slack Lane. The original building
dates back to around 1460 and is one of the finest
examples of a cruck building in the UK.
Medieval buildings often had cruck frames, and
this method of building was also used in masonry.
Medieval roofing often used curved windbracing
between the principal rafters and the purlins.
The beams at Handsworth Old Town Hall are in particularly
good order. The whole building is timber framed
and supported by the giant oak beams.
Whilst the oak beams are certainly ancient the
brick part of the building is from more recent
times. Originally this would have been one house
and the property has had many alterations and
changes during its long history. Records from
1625 relate to the adding of brickwork and extensive
repairs and the adding of a chimney. In 1938 the
building was sold to Birmingham City Council.
The Friends of Handsworth Old Town Hall help support
the use of the Old Town Hall and the Handsworth
Historical Society organises Open Weekends, Coffee
Mornings and Exhibitions. The property is open
on the first Tuesday of every month from 6.30
p.m. - 8.30 p.m. for enquiries and individual
or group visits must be booked in advance and
by appointment. There is no admission fee. Coffee
mornings and open days are also held monthly on
Saturdays.
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