LISTED BUILDING · NHLE 1119689
Lion Ballroom
Lion Ballroom, Leominster
Public hall of about 1830, formerly an assembly room and ballroom. The red-brick exterior contains a grand first-floor Neo-Classical hall with Corinthian columns, pilasters and richly detailed plasterwork.
Dates and uses reflect the source records and may not describe the building today.
Designation information
Inclusion in the National Heritage List for England confirms that this is a designated heritage asset of national special architectural or historic interest.
Architectural evidence and features
These descriptions relate to particular parts of the building at the date of each source. They may not reflect its use or condition today. Unconfirmed features remain open questions.
Evidence reviewed 13 September 2026.
Documented type / function
- Public hall, formerly assembly room and ballroom, with offices below at NHLE source date
Principal record; ancillary or mixed uses explicitly separated in text
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
Documented phases
- c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Building phases and source differences; not a single construction date
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
External wall material
- Red brick
hall
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
Roof covering
- Slate
hall
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
Other materials / details
- Wood
window mullions and transoms
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
Cladding / finishes
- Plasterwork
interior decorative scheme
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
Architectural features
- Mullion and transom windows; Casement windows; Segmental arches; Arcade; Round arches; Impost bands; Storey band; Neoclassical plasterwork; Corinthian pilasters; Corinthian columns; Entablature; Double doors; Platform recess; Blind arches; Fireplaces; Tall coving; Acanthus roses; Fleurons
Only the named features in their NHLE-described elevations, openings and interior; retain every source qualifier
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1119689
Applies to the named part and historical phase. A recorded use may no longer continue today.
- Tall mullion-and-transom window; Segmental brick arch; Round-arched arcade; Impost band; Storey band; Enclosed arcade; Courtyard; Timber joinery
Visible subject frontage only; joinery identification is visual, species and construction date unverified
Catalogue capture date 2026-07-25; metadata not independently authenticated
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Leominster Heritage photograph LH-IMG-000071
Shows features visible when photographed. Concealed materials, timber species, age and survival today remain unconfirmed.
Dated observations
- Hair-salon signage; Surface cabling or services; Weathering
Visible subject elevation and specified components only
Catalogue capture date 2026-07-25; metadata not independently authenticated
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Leominster Heritage photograph LH-IMG-000071
Shows what was visible when photographed. It does not establish present condition, concealed construction or current use.
Research notes and uncertainties
Source, component and current-use restrictions: 2023 listing amendment not 21st century fabric. Opposite blank architraves are decorative, not windows. Fireplace material unspecified. Current use/survival is not established as of September2026; source-date statements remain dated.
c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with 20th century glazing and doors. Explicit building phases, with alternatives preserved. Do not turn date alternatives into independently proven phases or use administrative/use dates as fabric. 2023 listing amendment not 21st century fabric. Opposite blank architraves are decorative, not windows. Fireplace material unspecified.
Explore records with these reviewed features. Results may concern only part of a listed group and retain their source-date qualifications.
How this record is evidenced
The designation, listing date and statutory description are drawn from Historic England, NHLE 1119689.
Current survey photographs dated 25 July 2026 record the publicly visible fabric and features shown on this page.
The concise summary and searchable feature tags have been prepared by Leominster Heritage and are kept separate from the statutory wording.
The open questions below identify evidence that has not yet been securely established.
Map location
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Lion Ballroom
Grade II* · c1830 hall; ground arcade formerly open, enclosed with C20 glazing and doors. · This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 9 January 2023 to amend the name and address, and reformat the text to current standards SO 4959 808-1/1/10006 LEOMINSTER BROAD STREET (West side) Lion Ballroom (Formerly listed as Lion Ballroom and Youth Enquiry Service) 24.07.1954 GV II* Public hall, formerly assembly room and ballroom, with office below. c1830. Red brick with slate roof. EXTERIOR: two storeys; five-window range of tall two-light wooden mullion and transom casements under brick segmental arches. Ground floor has arcade, formerly open, now with C20 glazing and doors, of round arches with impost bands. Wide storey band above. INTERIOR: grand first-floor hall, in Neo-Classical style with fine richly detailed plasterwork, is articulated with Corinthian pilasters to sides and columns to ends supporting full entablature all round. Entrance wall has pair of panelled double doors and far end wall has a platform recess behind the columns decorated with blind arches. To one side the window architraves have elaborate consoles supporting cornices and these are mirrored by blank architraves on the opposite wall with a pair of simple fireplaces below two of them. Above the entablature tall coving frames a central panel decorated with fine acanthus leaf 'roses' and smaller fleurons.
Public hall of about 1830, formerly an assembly room and ballroom. The red-brick exterior contains a grand first-floor Neo-Classical hall with Corinthian columns, pilasters and richly detailed plasterwork.
Current survey photographs
Documentary evidence
Historic England
Official list description
Original NHLE location reference
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 9 January 2023 to amend the name and address, and reformat the text to current standards SO 4959 808-1/1/10006 LEOMINSTER BROAD STREET (West side) Lion Ballroom (Formerly listed as Lion Ballroom and Youth Enquiry Service) 24.07.1954 GV II* Public hall, formerly assembly room and ballroom, with office below. c1830. Red brick with slate roof. EXTERIOR: two storeys; five-window range of tall two-light wooden mullion and transom casements under brick segmental arches. Ground floor has arcade, formerly open, now with C20 glazing and doors, of round arches with impost bands. Wide storey band above. INTERIOR: grand first-floor hall, in Neo-Classical style with fine richly detailed plasterwork, is articulated with Corinthian pilasters to sides and columns to ends supporting full entablature all round. Entrance wall has pair of panelled double doors and far end wall has a platform recess behind the columns decorated with blind arches. To one side the window architraves have elaborate consoles supporting cornices and these are mirrored by blank architraves on the opposite wall with a pair of simple fireplaces below two of them. Above the entablature tall coving frames a central panel decorated with fine acanthus leaf 'roses' and smaller fleurons.
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 9 January 2023 to amend the name and address, and reformat the text to current standards SO 4959 808-1/1/10006 LEOMINSTER BROAD STREET (West side) Lion Ballroom (Formerly listed as Lion Ballroom and Youth Enquiry Service) 24.07.1954 GV II* Public hall, formerly assembly room and ballroom, with office below. c1830. Red brick with slate roof. EXTERIOR: two storeys; five-window range of tall two-light wooden mullion and transom casements under brick segmental arches. Ground floor has arcade, formerly open, now with C20 glazing and doors, of round arches with impost bands. Wide storey band above. INTERIOR: grand first-floor hall, in Neo-Classical style with fine richly detailed plasterwork, is articulated with Corinthian pilasters to sides and columns to ends supporting full entablature all round. Entrance wall has pair of panelled double doors and far end wall has a platform recess behind the columns decorated with blind arches. To one side the window architraves have elaborate consoles supporting cornices and these are mirrored by blank architraves on the opposite wall with a pair of simple fireplaces below two of them. Above the entablature tall coving frames a central panel decorated with fine acanthus leaf 'roses' and smaller fleurons. Listing NGR: SO4957859168
Sources and further reading
Open questions
- What evidence can establish the sequence and date of the building’s principal alterations?
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