Bray Town Hall

At the top of Main Street, where Killarney Road, Vevay Road and Main Street meet, stands the most eye-catching building in central Bray — the Tudor-style Town Hall, with its red brick, timber framing and gables. It isn't a sight in the classic sense but a historic building you admire in passing, a worthwhile photo stop on the way to the seafront or Bray Head.

What to expect

The Town Hall and Market House is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) under reg. no. 16301068, with a rating of "Regional". It was built between 1879 and 1882 in the Tudor, or Old English Revival, style — red brick, decorative timber framing and steep gables give the building its picturesque, almost English look. Upstairs are 30 stained-glass panels bearing the Brabazon family's coat of arms.

Right in front stands the Brabazon Fountain of 1881, which has its own NIAH number (16301069) and belongs closely with the building. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for a look at the exterior, fountain included.

History

The building was donated by Reginald Brabazon, Lord Ardee, son and heir of the 11th Earl of Meath. In 1879 he offered a covered market house as a gift to the people of Bray — Lord and Lady Brabazon had it built at their own expense. Construction was finished in time for the Town Commissioners' meeting on 19 May 1884.

The design came from the renowned office of Thomas Newenham Deane & Son. The actual designer, though, is thought to have been a young assistant — Edward Guy Dawber, born 1861 in King's Lynn, who later became RIBA president and was knighted in 1936. Wardrop & Son carried out the construction at a cost of around £6,359. The older claim that Dawber "built" the house single-handedly falls short, then; he was the designer within Deane's office.

Then and now

The ground floor was originally a covered market house. The market closed in the mid-1940s; after a 1991 refurbishment, a McDonald's moved in in 1997 and still operates there today, freely accessible to all.

The upper floor long served as a council chamber — first for the Town Commissioners, later for Bray Urban District Council, and most recently for Bray Town Council. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 abolished that council; administration passed to Wicklow County Council and the Bray Municipal District. There is no public access to the historic chamber.

Visiting and practical information

• Location: Top of Main Street, at the meeting point of Killarney Road, Vevay Road and Main Street. Both common address forms (Main Street and the crossroads) are correct.
• Getting there: From Bray train station (DART) it's around a ten-minute walk up Main Street. Several bus routes stop at the nearby Market House stop.
• Admission: Viewing the exterior is free and possible at any time. There are no tickets, no opening hours and no tours of the interior.
• Best time: In daylight, when the brick and timber framing show best. There are no seasonal restrictions on viewing the exterior.

Combine with

The Town Hall sits right in the town centre and pairs well with a stroll along Main Street. The Brabazon Fountain and Bray Courthouse stand right next door, and it's also just a short walk to the seafront promenade and the climb up Bray Head. For more on the historical background, see our overview of Dublin and the region's history.