Stamford Town Hall

About the museum

Stamford's first town hall was a room in a gatehouse on the bridge over the River Welland, completed in 1558. When turnpike trustees wanted the gatehouse removed in 1774, the town agreed on condition that they helped to pay for a replacement. The present building on St Mary's Hill was begun in 1776 and finished in 1779, probably to a design by Henry Tatam, and is built of local ashlar stone.

The town hall also served as a prison until 1878, and its cells survive beneath the building. It housed Stamford Borough Council until 1974 and has since been the headquarters of Stamford Town Council. The courtroom was used as a magistrates' court until 2010, and some exhibits from the closed Stamford Museum were moved here in 2011.

The Grade II* listed building holds the Phillips Room, with books bought for the town after 1902, and the Malcolm Sargent Room, which displays memorabilia given by the conductor's family. Volunteer guides now lead tours through parts of the building that are not normally open to the public, and the council is studying whether the town hall could one day also house a new town museum.

Highlights

• Georgian gaol cells beneath the building
• Historic courtroom with painted boards listing Stamford's mayors since 1471
• Council chamber, paintings and silver regalia
• Malcolm Sargent Room with memorabilia
• Grade II* listed building from 1779

Permanent exhibitions

• Georgian gaol – Rooms below the town hall with the remains of the Georgian gaol, including a surviving cell, shown on the 2026 tours.
• Historic courtroom and council chamber – The courtroom has painted boards recording Stamford's mayors from 1471 to the present, and the tours also include the council chamber, paintings and regalia.

Operated by

Stamford Town Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Tours are free. Donations are welcome toward the care of the town's historic collections and a future town museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Georgian gaol areas have low lighting, uneven stone floors and level changes, so sensible footwear is recommended.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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