The town hall, which was the headquarters of Atherton Urban District Council, is now in use as a community hub and as a public library.

[2] Atherton became an urban district in 1894[3] and, in this context, civic leaders decided to demolish the existing offices and build a new structure on the same site.

[5] It was designed by James Caldwell Prestwich in the Baroque style, built in red brick with stone dressings and was completed in 1900.

[9] A Carnegie library, designed by Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was built on a site just to the north of the town hall and was opened by Lord Lilford on 24 May 1905.

[11] An extensive programme of refurbishment works costing £1 million was completed in November 2018.