please empty your brain below
York House in Twickenham is indeed a historic building, a former stately home, but it currently serves as the borough of Richmond's Town Hall so should be listed in the "Town Hall/Civic Centre" group.

Likewise Kingston's Old Court House is in fact part of the Guildhall building which still serves as the Town Hall, (so should also be listed in that group).

dg writes: both shifted, thanks

Kingston's Registry Office used to be a purpose-built building opposite Norbiton station, very handy for the hospital, which is where most births and deaths occur. It was sold and converted to flats about five years ago. New parents or the newly-bereaved now have to take a bus into town to register the fact, and newlyweds and their guests no longer have anywhere to park.

Timbo | 04.11.21 - 7:50 a.m. | #

Wandsworth Town Hall isn't particularly special from the outside, but the central courtyard and Art Deco interior are really quite special.
(biased as I was married there)

Chz | 04.11.21 - 8:27 a.m. | #

Please add Woolwich Town Hall, a Grade I listed building in Wellington Street, SE10, as the Greenwich borough entry.

Philip Binns | 04.11.21 - 9:04 a.m. | #

Westminster are perhaps trying a little too hard by marketing the simple low-key wedding as "You Plus Two - A Day to Remember".

Andrew S | 04.11.21 - 9:45 a.m. | #

Camden: Temporarily in a historicish building - Tavistock House, Tavistock Square -
"Tavistock House was once home to Charles Dickens and is adjacent to Tavistock Square Gardens, an ideal outdoor space to capture memories of your special day followed by a reception and photo opportunity against a stunning backdrop."

Fred C | 04.11.21 - 9:54 a.m. | #

I think that Camden's wedding are currently taking place at Tavistock House (It's the only venue on that page which has a camden.gov.uk email address).

Apparently it is there because:
"Camden Town Hall is currently closed for refurbishment. The ceremony suites are temporarily relocated to Tavistock House."

Huw Thomas | 04.11.21 - 9:56 a.m. | #

I used to live quite near to Merton's registry office which would have been great for registering the birth of my son.

Except the local hospital is in Wandsworth so we had to go on an epic bus journey to theirs instead because that's how it works.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 04.11.21 - 11:45 a.m. | #

Bromley Public hall is where my civil partnership took place back in 2006, it had a lovely rear garden complete with a wrought iron love seat which was a beautiful backdrop for the photographs following the ceremony, sadly the seat was stolen a few weeks later.

fishislandskin | 04.11.21 - 11:57 a.m. | #

I had to click on the Lewisham link - it read like it was in a job centre or something.

The Lewisham website offers 2 highly uninspiring photos of the interior, but google streetview suggests a dinky piece of 1930s civil architecture - something of a mini town hall. And all for 'just' £227 on a weekday.

You could be forgiven for thinking it was part of Lewisham Hospital. I guess at least it's convenient for births and some deaths.

Will | 04.11.21 - 12:09 p.m. | #

Camden updated, thanks.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 04.11.21 - 1:05 p.m. | #

Round of applause for correct use of Register Office as opposed to Registry Office.

Robert Butlin | 04.11.21 - 1:14 p.m. | #

An occupational hazard of working for Councils is having to dodge out of the way of a wedding party / duck under a photographers line as you leave a meeting in a Council building.

I suspect i have inadvertantly appeared in the background of dozens of wedding photos over the years.

matt | 04.11.21 - 2:07 p.m. | #

The Havering Register Office at Langtons House is a very pleasant location, with attractive landscaped gardens. The nice thing is that the gardens are open to all, so couples who get married at other venues often turn up at Langtons later in the day to use the gardens as the backdrop to their wedding photos.
Langtons also hosts other events such as art exhibitions and an open-air summer concert (Covid permitting).

Carllo | 04.11.21 - 2:36 p.m. | #

Interesting blog - thanks.
Indeed Langtons is a lovely place, nice garden and lake. Have known it for more than 60 years. Was a library at the front of Fairkytes house by the road next door. Good venue, plus parking in the area.

Herbof | 04.11.21 - 6:56 p.m. | #

My elder son was born at St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1983 and before my wife left I was able to register the birth at the hospital instead of having to visit the local register office.

JohnC | 04.11.21 - 8:47 p.m. | #

Hackney has three more council-owned wedding venues in addition to Hackney Town Hall, including the lovely former Stoke Newington Town Hall

It's nice to see they've kept multiple municipal venues in public hands.

lockedintheattic | 05.11.21 - 2:46 p.m. | #

Oh no, that's really sad. Me and my better half got married there just under four years and two months ago. I cycle past there twice a week and often think of the day. Damn. All these lovely buildings lost to the public.

Colin | Homepage | 06.11.21 - 7:43 a.m. | #

I'm reasonably reliably informed that the LBTH Register Office will end up in the new Town Hall.

Howard | 06.11.21 - 11:38 a.m. | #

Oh, this makes me so sad. I was naturalised as a Brit in that upstairs room in March 2019. To think it will now just become an office, i.e. a place I'll never able to visit and come back to again...

K | 08.11.21 - 4:14 p.m. | #











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