Kensington Town House
Kensington, New Hampshire
NR Reference Number: 13000155
Listed: 04/09/2013

 Location:

95 Amesbury Road, Kensington, New Hampshire

Summary:

The Kensington Town Hall is nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C for significance in the Area of Architecture at the local level as a representation of mid-nineteenth century civic architecture in Kensington, New Hampshire. The Kensington Town Hall, built in 1846, is a purpose-built town house in the Greek Revival style. The building retains its historic Greek Revival design characterized by wood-frame construction, paired entries on the front gable end, corner pilasters and cornice returns, a rectangular footprint, and regular fenestration on the side elevations. These stylistic and architectural features likely reflect the work of Sanborn and Blake, well-known local builders active in the 1830s and 1840s who are known to have built two other similarly styled and detailed Kensington institutional buildings. The town hall is also nominated for listing under Criterion A for its historical associations in the Area of Community Planning and Development starting with purpose-built town halls. The Kensington Town Hall meets Criteria Consideration B because its primary significance is for its Greek Revival architecture characteristic of other institutional buildings of the same period in Kensington and other town halls in New Hampshire. In 1980 the town hall was moved back from the road on the same.historic lot and continues to convey its architectural values. The Period of Significance for the property represents the years of construction and completion, 1846, through 1916, when the last historic addition was made to the rear of the building. The town hall retains integrity of location, design, feeling, materials, setting, association, and workmanship.

 

Link to full file: Kensington Town House