Battersea Town Hall

Watercolour by Albert Warren, depicting Battersea Town Hall. 1945.

The watercolour depict a detailed architectural view of a grand building, the former Battersea Council Town Hall. The building is the central focus with its large multistorey structure with a prominent central tower and a symmetrical façade.

The colour scheme is fairly muted, with a focus on browns, greys and a touch of red. There is a play of shadows in the building surfaces, and is also projecting its shadow in nearby buildings.

The surrounding area, including some human figures are treated at accessories, and the y are almost transparent.

The bottom right corner bears the signature ALBERT WARREN.

Battersea Town Hall (1893) was designed by Edward Mountford and built between 1891–1893. It is a Grade II* listed building on Lavender Hill. Originally the New Parochial Offices, it was a symbol of Battersea’s civic pride and autonomy, featuring Edwardian Baroque architecture with Arts and Crafts influences. The building housed council chambers, public halls, and offices, and was richly decorated with mosaics, plasterwork, and sculptures by Paul Montford.

It played a key role in local politics and social reform, hosting figures like John Archer, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Shapurji Saklatvala. After local government moved to Wandsworth in 1965, the building was saved from demolition and reopened as Battersea Arts Centre in 1974.

On Friday 13 March 2015, a devastating fire broke out in the Grand Hall of Battersea Arts Centre during renovation works. The blaze caused the collapse of the hall’s historic roof, which had stood for 122 years. The front of the Grade II*-listed building was saved and reopened just 26 hours later. The Grand Hall officially reopened in September 2018 after a full restoration.