Council House, Malvern

The Council House is a municipal building in Great Malvern, a town in Worcestershire in England.

The building, in 2007

From the Mediaeval period, Nether Court, a grange of Great Malvern Priory, lay among fields. In 1846, it was sold for the construction of housing. A house named The Priory was built in 1847 for James Manby Gully, who was prominent in turning Malvern in establishing hydrotherapy in Malvern. The property was purchased by Albert Miles Speer, who demolished it in 1873. He commissioned a new, larger, house. It was designed by Henry Haddon in the Perpendicular Gothic style, and was constructed between 1874 and 1880. The carving was undertaken by William Forsyth, while stained glass was designed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

In 1909, the building was converted into a preparatory school, and a gymnasium and swimming pool were constructed in the grounds. In 1925, it was purchased by Malvern Urban District Council, to serve as its headquarters. The grounds were annexed by a neighbouring public park. In 1974, the area became part of the Malvern Hills District, which continued to use the building as its headquarters, and converted the gymnasium into its council chamber. The building was grade II* listed in 1979.

The building is constructed of stone, with brick chimneys and a tiled roof, with a service wing of yellow brick, and a conservatory of wood and glass. It has a broadly square plan, with a full-height central hall. The service wing extended north, and the conservatory and billiards room to the east. It is asymmetrical, and has windows with mullions and transoms. The main entrance has a projecting porch, which incorporates carvings of animals. There is a four-storey stair tower, with a spire turret. Inside, there is much carved wood and tilework.