Town Hall and former gaol. 1774-6, with late C18 and mid C19 additions. By John Carr of York. Restored 1989-91 by Guy St John Taylor Associates and James Brotherhood Associates.Mansfield white sandstone ashlar and brick with slate roof. Plinth, frieze, dentillated cornice, open balustrade with urns at the corners. Windows are glazing bar sashes.3 storeys; 7 window range.Projecting 3-bay centre has a giant tetrastyle Doric portico with balustrade, and pediment containing the Town Arms, topped with a central figure of Justice renewed c1983. At the angles of the pediment, pedestals with a lion to left and a unicorn to right. Within the portico, 3 tall windows, the central one pedimented and the flanking ones corniced. Above them, 3 smaller windows. Outer first floor windows have cornices and pseudo-balustrades. Smaller second floor windows have moulded architraves. Rusticated ground floor has round arched openings with multiple keystones and impost band. In the centre, 3 doorways with wrought iron grilles and gates. Beyond, single glazing bar windows and beyond again, single doorways with half-glazed doors with fanlights. To left, late C18 addition forming Mayor's Secretary's office. Red brick with ashlar lintels and slate roof. 4 storeys; single window range of glazing bar sashes, and a round arched entry with keystone. Interior has an outstanding ballroom with paired pilasters and domed apsidal ends, screened by pairs of giant Corinthian columns. Coved compartmented ceiling by Kilminster of Derby. Central enriched marble fireplace on each side wall. Front has 4 doors in decorated surrounds, and rear 2 doors. Rear has central window with fanlight, flanked by single busts on console brackets.Central council chamber has metope and triglyph frieze, ceiling bosses and door and window architraves with cornices. Mayor's Parlour and picture room have moulded cornices, elaborate doorcases and marble and wood fireplaces. Oval stairwell has dogleg stair with winders and ramped and scrolled mahogany handrail. Below the ballroom, an 8 x 3 bay market hall with Doric arcades and engaged columns in the aisles. Round arched side openings. On the north side, former gaol, mid C19, brick, with slate roof. Single storey, with 3 windows and 4 doors, one of them blocked, all with segmental heads. The Town hall is descibed as " a fine example of its type and period" (Pevsner) and is a good example of the work of John Carr. (EH)