Buildings of Stoke-on-Trent

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Third Town Hall
Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

At a glance
Building

Burslem - Third Town Hall.

While it was specifically commissioned, designed, and constructed to serve as a town hall it was never actually used as such.

Just as construction was getting underway, the six independent towns of the Potteries were, in 1910, federated into a single county borough. 

[more on Federation]

Location:

Wedgwood Street

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Built:

This Town Hall built in 1911 just behind the second town hall. The foundation stone was laid by Alderman Malkin.

Architect: Russell & Cooper of London
Architectural style:

".. Classical, with pairs of giant columns in antis" N. Pevsner's 'The Buildings of England'

Ashlar faced, brick to rear. entrance block with full height portico divided by 3 pairs of Corinthian columns carrying the entablature, cornice and pierced balustrade.

Demolished: existing
Listing: Grade II listed on 19 April 1972  | see listing details
Later uses: 

The Queen's Hall (later renamed the Queen's Theatre) was utilized as a multi-purpose entertainment, arts, and community hub.

The main hall was heavily used for theatrical productions and performing arts. In 1966, it became the permanent home for the North Staffordshire Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. It regularly hosted local drama groups, pantomimes, concerts, and operatic recitals.

Site today: 

Repair costs unfortunately forced the building to close to the public in 1998. 

A new leaseholder briefly took over the building, allowing it to host occasional community events between 2003 and 2014 before it shut down completely.

A current (2026) project aims to resurrect the building as a multi-purpose cultural hub known as Kilmister Halls.

 

 


 


c.1913 - Postcard of Queen's Hall, formerly Burslem's third town hall

Because Burslem lost its independent administrative status, it no longer needed a massive new town hall to govern itself. Local administrative powers shifted to the centralized governing seat, which ultimately went to Stoke and Hanley. 

When the building was completed in 1911, it was immediately adapted and opened as a entertainment venue called the Queen's Hall (later the Queen's Theatre), operating as a home for drama, music, and community dance events rather than municipal governance


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Page History:

  • Page created: 28 January 2002

  • Last updated: 4 September 2026 - page revised and updated, 'at a glance' panel added..