Restored British-Era Lakshmanaswami Town Hall Reopens in Vellore

The British-era Lakshmanaswami Town Hall in Vellore, built in 1906 and named after physician Arcot Lakshmanaswami, has been restored and reopened for public use following comprehensive repairs. The building, located opposite the 16th-century Vellore Fort on Infantry Road, underwent structural reinforcement, roof replacement, and installation of new water supply and LED lighting systems under a restoration drive funded by the Collectors general funds.

The hall previously housed the North Arcot regional museum from 1985 until 1999, when it was moved to the fort complex due to space constraints. Since then, the building served as a venue for community events but fell into disrepair, with cracked walls, damaged Mangalore tiles, broken sewer lines, and overgrown vegetation. PWD officials, under the supervision of Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi, led the restoration, replacing damaged tiles, repairing pipelines, and clearing encroachments.

Arcot Lakshmanaswami and his twin brother Arcot Ramaswami, both prominent figures in the region, donated the building to the government after independence for public use. Local historians confirm its significance as a cultural and civic landmark in Vellore. The curator of Vellore Museum, K. Saravanan, noted it was initially a temporary site for the district museum, the sixth established in Tamil Nadu at the time.

Revenue officials confirmed the hall is now fully functional and available for public booking with a nominal usage fee. The restoration aims to preserve heritage while supporting community access to event spaces. The facility is expected to resume hosting social and cultural functions immediately.