The predecessors of the council were the Local Board, who originally held their meetings in the upstairs room at the disused malt house behind the White Lion public house in King Street. By the 1870s this building was in an advanced state of decay, the final decision to abandon it, being taken after someone threw a stone through the window during a meeting.

In July 1881 the Local Board borrowed £500 from the government to purchase the land on which to build a Town Hall. A piece of land was duly purchased in Pardoes Lane where one of the town's two workhouses, now derelict,  had been built. The foundation stone was laid on Tuesday 21st of June 1887 by James Slater of Bescot Hall, chairman of the Local Board.

The old workhouse in Pardoes Lane where the new town hall was built. From the Methodist recorder, 1901.
This was the day of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and so there were many celebrations in the town. The schools had broken up on the previous Friday for a weeks holiday, and a public holiday was declared on the day itself. Most of the streets were elaborately decorated with bunting, streamers, flags, coloured lights, paper flowers, banners, and pictures of the Queen. Church bells were rung, and services of thanksgiving were held at each church, the principal one being All Saints in Walsall Road. Pardoes Lane was renamed Victoria Street in honour of the Golden Jubilee.
The Havelock Brass Band led a procession from All Saints to Victoria Road for the foundation laying ceremony. At two o'clock in the afternoon 400 old and needy people were served with dinner in a marquee erected on the site of the present football ground. At four o'clock that afternoon children were provided with tea at their respective schools.
The Town Hall, designed by Birmingham architect, Jethro Cossins, opened on Wednesday 31st October 1888, but even then had not been completed as all of the available money had run out.

Apart from the original £500 loan, £3,500 was borrowed from the Prudential Insurance Company, and a further £2,000 raised by public subscription.
 Darlaston Town Hall in about 1936. The Post Office on the right,
 opened in 1912.
Before building work had finished another £560 was borrowed, and £440 raised from indoor markets held in the Town Hall itself. The last part to be completed was the public library, which opened on the 14th September 1891. The original library opened in 1848 as the "Mechanics Institute" on the corner of Dorsett Road and Cock Street, next to the Dartmouth Arms. The building, an old house was rented from Mr. Bruerton, a pawnbroker for £28 per year. In 1875 it became the Institute Library, the town's first public library containing 750 books, which were purchased by the local authority for £75.
        
Read about the early library


The Slater Memorial Organ.


The Town Hall in the 1980s.

In November 1903 the Town Hall was presented with an organ by Mrs. Slater, the widow of James Slater, a previous chairman of the Local Board.
On the 1st of January, 1895 Darlaston became an Urban District, and the Local Board became Darlaston Urban District Council.

Their meetings were held at the Town Hall for the next 70 years, until Darlaston became part of Walsall in 1966.

The library moved to new premises on the corner of King Street and re-opened on 5th August, 1987. From then-on the Town Hall only housed the Social Services department. 


The Town Hall as it is today.


Another view showing the main entrance.

 The main hall continued to be used for concerts, plays, pantomimes, and jumble sales.
 

The town hall closed in September 2006 due to health and safety concerns and its future looked uncertain.

Luckily help was at hand in the form of Walsall Council who undertook a £325,000 restoration scheme to restore the building to its former glory.

The work included roof repairs, rewiring, repainting, upgrading the kitchen, and a refurbishment of the Slater organ, which itself cost £7,500.

The building officially reopened in June 2008 and is now used for concerts and events of all kinds.


Looking towards Victoria Park.
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