Handsworth Old Town Hall is located on the corner of College Road and Slack Lane.
The easiest parking is on 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
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, extensive repairs, and the addition
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. to 8.30 p.m. For enquiries, individual or group visits must be booked in
advance by appointment. There is no admission fee. Coffee mornings and open days
are also held monthly on Saturdays.
Old Town Hall, 20 Slack Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, B20 2JL
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