Former Town Hall And Medway Arts Centre

Chatham Town Hall stands beside The Brook in Chatham, Kent. Designed by George Edward Bond in a Renaissance style, it opened in 1900 as the new seat of local government after Chatham became a municipal borough in 1890. The five-bay frontage faces The Brook, with a clock tower rising above the corner with Barrier Road. Figures of justice, Britannia, agriculture and music crown the roofline. Inside, the first floor held the mayor’s parlour, council chamber and a large assembly hall with a proscenium arch. The War Office once owned the vacant plot where the town hall now stands. The building has served the arts since the late 1980s. It became Medway Arts Centre in 1987 and reopened as the Brook Theatre in 1997, focusing on children’s productions. By the mid-2000s it offered a 400-seat main auditorium, a 60-seat studio and spaces for workshops. Summer 2005 featured performances by StopGAP and Earthfall, while autumn brought comedy, jazz, folk and youth theatre. A council report noted water damage to curtains and profits from confectionery sales of £32,535 in 2006–07. The Brook closed in April 2023 for major refurbishment. Medway Council plans new studio space, flexible work areas and improved accessibility. A £10.8 million contract was awarded in November 2024, with completion expected by spring 2027. The project follows surveys that revealed structural issues and adds £14.7 million for repairs and digital upgrades. Once work finishes, the building will reopen as a community arts venue.