Sunderland Town Hall

After Sunderland became a municipal borough in 1835, civic leaders initially held their meetings in the Exchange Building on High Street East which had served as the local market hall as well as the courthouse since it was completed in 1814. Following the expansion of the borough council's responsibilities in the latter half of the 19th century, civic leaders decided to procure a purpose-built town hall. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the mayor, Councillor Edwin Richardson, on 29 September 1887. It was designed by Brightwen Binyon in the Italianate style, was built by John and Thomas Tillman at a cost of around £50,000 and was officially opened by the mayor,…