The imposing town hall was designed in 1864 by Launceston architect, Peter Mills. What fascinates me about history and buildings is often the shock of the new and newspaper reviews are important reminders of how buildings we might enjoy weren't necessarily viewed in the same way when they were once new.

The local Examiner newspaper wrote in 1867 that ''The Town Hall is a bastard, or more properly speaking, a plasterer's Corinthian. The designer appears to have studied how far he could outrage goode taste and set delicacy and refinement at defiance by obtruding as many points and angles upon the eye as it was possible to crowd into the two wings. The windows, surmounted with large and ungainly pediments look like a young houses growing out of the side of the building, and the way in which they are crowded together is an irresistible reminder of the house that Jack built''

Researching this kind of opinion fascinates me as it shows that we are simply products of our time and that it could be argued its not for us to say what is good/bad doesn't fit in etc as future generations will judge us for what we have left. Another interesting point about the town hall is that when it was built it only had a few columns at the front, the building was much smaller when it was originally built. It was extended out in the 1930s to what we see today - imagine if the Examiner newspaper writer saw it then! This is another important point and one in which I explore in my latest book ''Launceston Landmarks'' The buildings change over time, they aren't static time capsules, they change and adapt as human need arises.

The book is available for preorder as are limited edition fine art prints of the town hall and 74 other Launceston Landmarks. I a excited to be sharing these images, many which I've not shared before until now http://www.tryanphotos.com/launceston-landmarks