The Old Town Hall Trowbridge
About
The Old Town Hall in Trowbridge, Wiltshire is a beautifully restored Grade II-listed community venue at the heart of the town’s cultural life, hosting performances, exhibitions, café space and events.
ARN Design was delighted to be awarded this project after a competitive tender. Originally brought in to manufacture new tabletops, the brief quickly expanded, and we were entrusted with designing and building a bespoke bar and reception counter that would sit harmoniously in the hall while reflecting its heritage.
Services Used
- Furniture Design
- CAD
- CNC Machining
- Joinery & Carpentry
- Assembley & Finishing
What We Did
Furniture Design & CAD Modelling
Starting with concept and CAD development allowed us to consider proportions, joinery logic and practical assembly early on. CAD was particularly useful in visualising how new furniture would sit within the space and align with the character of the historic building.
By digitally refining each element before manufacture, we ensured the bar, reception and tabletops would feel coherent and well-resolved once built.
Reclaimed Parquet, Complementary Timber & CNC Processing
A key requirement from the client was to reuse as much original material as possible. When three bulk bags of reclaimed parquet arrived at our workshop, we knew we had the start of something special.
The reclaimed parquet blocks formed the decorative heart of the bar. Each block was carefully processed and machined into uniform pieces using CNC machining, preserving the original material while giving it new life.
To add depth and variation to the parquet pattern, we introduced complementary sections of oak and beech, then stained and finished the pattern so it subtly highlights the letters “TOTH” - shorthand for The Old Town Hall. This creative reuse of materials not only honoured the building’s story but created a unique visual identity for the space.
Timber Selection & Joinery
For structural elements, we chose high-quality hardwood plywood for the bar carcasses, paired with solid Iroko nosing for durability and visual weight. The worktops were constructed from full-stave Iroko, a dense, beautiful African hardwood that performs exceptionally well in busy commercial environments.
Using traditional joinery and carpentry techniques, our makers brought these components together with a focus on both robustness and aesthetics, ensuring each piece was built to last.
Assembly, Finishing & Installation
Final assembly and finishing were tailored to celebrate the natural character of the timber. Iroko worktops were oiled to reveal rich tones and grain, while the stained parquet panels bring warmth and subtle texture to the bar face.
Once complete, the new bar, reception desk and tabletops were installed, ready to serve the venue’s visitors - functional, durable and visually aligned with the heritage of the Old Town Hall.
The Result
The finished furniture not only meets the practical needs of daily use in a busy public venue, but also contributes to the building’s atmosphere, with craftsmanship that feels intentional and expressive. ARN Design was particularly pleased with how the reclaimed parquet panels catch the eye, revealing movement and character across each surface.
This project is a great example of how CAD-led design, precision CNC fabrication, thoughtful material reuse and skilled joinery can come together to produce furniture that’s both functional and full of personality.
