Stop 3: The Town Hall
Community & Belief
Yarm Town Hall, High St, TS15 9AH
About This Stop
Sitting in the heart of Yarm High Street is the Town Hall Building, once the Lord of the Manor’s court house and now home to Yarm Heritage Centre. It is one of the most recognisable buildings in the high street.
How to Get Here
Continue down the right side until you reach halfway into the street where you will find the Town Hall.
The History
Yarm Town Hall is a grade II building and was built in 1710, operating as a tollbridge and continued to be referred to as a toll bridge up until the early 19th century.
On the ground level of the town hall were eight open arches, which were used as market space. It was also used for court hearings held by both the Lord of the Manor and then later by the local magistrates. The town hall contained a bell that was a part of the original building that existed before the current one, which was rung to warn people of flooding.
Did You Know?
On the south side of the Town Hall there are a number of other plaques besides the heritage plaque, the biggest commemorating the volunteers who served in the South African War of 1899-1902. Below that plaque, is a memory plaque for the pioneers of the railway.
The final two smaller plaques reference the heights the floods of 1771 and 1881 reached. The first of the floods was disastrous, with the Tees reaching up to 20 feet above the normal level and many lives were lost, while others were rescued on boats.
Yarm Town Hall: Then and Now
