Shoreditch Town Hall

Shoreditch Town Hall stands in the London Borough of Hackney, a Grade II listed building that once housed the Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch. The original eastern section was designed by Caesar Augustus Long in the Italianate style and completed in 1866. Its symmetrical frontage on Old Street features a tetrastyle porch with Ionic columns and a pediment adorned with symbolic statuary. The building’s history includes the 1888 inquest into Mary Jane Kelly, the last victim of the Whitechapel murders. In 1902, an extension added a tower and three more bays, designed by William Hunt. After a fire in 1904, the assembly hall was rebuilt, and a southern wing was added in 1938. Today, the restored town hall serves as an independent cultural and community space. Its principal rooms include the council chamber, mayor’s parlour, and a large assembly hall. The building hosts live events, arts programmes, and small business activities, reflecting its ongoing role in the local community.