The building was commissioned to replace the old town hall in East Street.[2][3][4] A large site was chosen for the new building east of Broadway and extensive demolition of aging residential accommodation was undertaken in the late 1930s.[4] The clearance included the buildings on Heath Street which led down to Barking Wharf.[4]
Northwest view of the tower
The new building was designed by Herbert Jackson and Reginald Edmonds in the Neo-Georgian style and was inspired by Stockholm City Hall.[4][5] The design for the main frontage in Barking Town Square, which was brick faced, involved nine bays with an arched doorway on the ground floor, a balcony and three tall windows on the first floor and three smaller windows on the second floor; a tall clock tower surmounted by a cupola was erected at roof level.[6] The size of the building was maximised by the use of lengthy side elevations: the elevations on the north west and south east sides extended back 17 bays.[7]
Construction work started in 1939 and was delayed the completed basement was put into use as an air raid shelter for the duration of the Second World War.[7] After the war construction was resumed and was undertaken by the council's own direct workforce at a cost of £520,000.[7] The building was officially opened by Dame Evelyn Sharp, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, on 17 December 1958.[6]
Barking Assembly Hall, which adjoins the main building, was added in 1961.[8] Now known as "The Broadway", it was remodeled as an arts centre and auditorium in 2006.[9]
A major refurbishment of the complex, to a design by Hawkins\Brown, was completed in 2006[13] with further alterations to facilitate open plan working being completed in April 2018.[14]
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