In the early 20th century the local council was based at municipal offices in "Clattern House", a mansion which had originally been built as judges' lodgings in 1811.[2][3] The Coronation Stone, which commemorates the coronation of seven Anglo-Saxon kings, was moved to its present location, which was just in front of the old mansion, in 1850.[4] After the old municipal offices became inadequate, they were demolished to make way for the current building.[2]
It is a neo-Georgian red brick building with Portland stone dressings and tiled roof, laid out to a semi-circular plan.[1] To the centre of the semi-circular elevation is a massive square tower with a low octagonal spire and fluted corner pinnacles.[1] The central entrance is in the base of the tower. Above it is a two-storey, round headed window set in an open pedimented stone niche with simplified Corinthian columns rising from a corbelled balcony.[1] Pictorial references to the River Thames are displayed upon a keystone inside the niche, and on the corbels, capitals and iron gates. The coat of arms of Kingston is set further up the tower.[1] Inside, there is a marble lined circular entrance hall, and a central staircase with original opaque glass semi-spherical lamps.[1]
The building, which was established as the headquarters of the Municipal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, became the administrative headquarters of the enlarged Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council in 1965.[8] In order to accommodate a larger number of staff, it was extended in 1968.[9] It was further extended by additions known as "Guildhall one" and Guildhall two", which were designed by Ronald Ward & Partners, between 1975 and 1978.[10]
The part of the complex associated with the magistrates' courts closed in 2011 and re-opened as a venue for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies known as the "Old Court House" in September 2015.[11]
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