The County Hall stilts are an architectural feature, but the normal reason for building on stilts is more practical – to keep out of reach of flooding.
Here near the Ock these sheltered flats for the elderly are built on stilts, and it looks from this morning’s flood that the stilts are a wise precaution.
Nearby is another place with houses upon stilts – just before the Ock enters the Thames. The Ock can quite easily flood near houses in town.

The Thames normally only overflows on the opposite bank on fields…
..but that is not to say the Thames will not creep up places such as this public slipway.

The owners have wisely slid down a thick plastic shutter to protect their property.