By Tim Hudson, guest speaker
What is the largest building in Chichester after the cathedral? Most residents will know County Hall, tucked away behind West Street. A public right of way runs past it; and whenever a news item about the County Council appears in the press it is likely to be accompanied by a photograph of the building. Its architect is not so well known, however. County Hall, built between 1933 and 1936, is the major work of the then county architect C G Stillman. Since Stillman designed other important buildings in the city as well, he is the person who singly has had the greatest effect on Chichester ‘s appearance.
County Hall is neo-Georgian, the preferred option for public buildings in the 1920s and 30s, when several county headquarters were constructed; but Stillman’s later work was influenced by more ‘modern’ styles. Though since enlarged and slightly altered, County Hall remains largely as originally built. The talk will point out some of its quirky architectural details, and will show some of its interior spaces, which aren’t generally known to outsiders. Perhaps surprisingly, the building was once the home of the West Sussex County Record Office, which lurked in its basement until 1968.
Stillman was from Berkshire, and after service in the First World War worked in Hampshire and Suffolk, being appointed to Chichester when he was only 38. He was responsible for buildings elsewhere in West Sussex as well, several of which survive, and these will also feature in the talk. Stillman’s final post was as County Architect of Middlesex, and a particular interest, both in West Sussex and London, was school design; he contributed to national discussions on the subject in committees from the 1940s on.
Join us on Tuesday 30 September at 7pm in-person or online for this talk. In-person tickets cost £8 (£7 for WSAS members) or £5 for online tickets. Book your tickets on our website: https://www.wsro.org.uk/product/county-hall-and-its-architect-talk/.
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West Sussex Record Office 