Inside Historic Liverpool Town Hall
Every year during the August bank holidays, Liverpool council opens the historic doors to the Old Town Hall for the public to see and feel.
It is one of the finest
surviving 18th-century Neoclassical town halls in the country according to the authors of the Buildings of
England series. Probably the grandest suite of civic rooms and an outstanding example of late Georgian decoration.
In the 17th-18th century, it was at the centre of the city's trading activity - the slave trade and the import of goods. The building has an exterior decorative frieze showing African faces, elephants, crocodiles and lions. All of the city's mayors between 1787 and 1807 were involved in the slave trade.
In the 17th-18th century, it was at the centre of the city's trading activity - the slave trade and the import of goods. The building has an exterior decorative frieze showing African faces, elephants, crocodiles and lions. All of the city's mayors between 1787 and 1807 were involved in the slave trade.
The foundation stone of the present building was laid on 14 September 1749, finished in 1754, replacing an earlier town hall. The town hall was bombarded during the 1775 Liverpool Seamen's Revolt. Following a fire in 1795, the hall was largely rebuilt and a dome was added. In 1881 an attempt to blow up the town hall by the Fenians was aborted.
The very last act of the American Civil War was when Captain Waddell walked up the steps of the town hall in November 1865 with a letter to the mayor surrendering his vessel, the CSS Shenandoah, to the British government.
Part of the building was damaged in the Liverpool Blitz of 1941. Between 2014 and 2015 the exterior of the building was renovated as part of a £400,000 project. The work included repairing bomb damage from the 1941 Blitz and cleaning the sandstone from the effects of pollution.
It is not an administrative building, it serves representative and business purposes, however, there is Lord Mayor's parlour and the Council Chamber. The streets surrounding Town Hall have altered since its construction, this is why the Hall appears as off-centre the south-side when viewed from Castle Street.
The main door leads to the Vestibule or Entrance Hall. It has a tiled floor with depictions of the arms of Liverpool and the liver bird.
On the east side is a large wooden fireplace containing 17th-century
Flemish carvings. In a groin-vaulted
ceiling are murals painted in 1909, depicting
events in Liverpool's history:
King John creating Liverpool a free port
(West wall);
Industry and Peace (North Wall);
Liverpool as the centre of
Commerce (East wall);
Education and Progress (South wall).
Below these
are brass tablets containing the names of the freemen of Liverpool. Also in the entrance hall are bardic chairs from the two Eisteddfods held in the city.
On the ground floor on each side of the staircase is display cabinets holding the city's silver.
A red-carpeted staircase leads to a half-landing, at the top is a statue of George Canning holding a scroll, dated 1832, and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
On the ground floor on each side of the staircase is display cabinets holding the city's silver.
A red-carpeted staircase leads to a half-landing, at the top is a statue of George Canning holding a scroll, dated 1832, and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Around the base of the dome is inscribed Liverpool's motto, "Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit", a quotation from Virgil translating as 'God has given to us this leisure', and paintings dated 1902 depicting scenes of dock labour.
At the rear of the ground floor is the Council Chamber. This has mahogany-panelled walls and can seat 160 people.
Liverpool City
Council meets here every seven weeks.
Also on the ground floor is the Hall of Remembrance created in 1921.
There are murals and
panels with names of the soldiers from Liverpool who lost their lives in the
First World War. Further down the stairs in the basement are exclusive Art-Deco lavatories.
The upper floor consists of lavishly decorated function rooms, all connected in a circular way through the doorways.
The middle room is the Central Reception Room. It has a circular ceiling and plasterwork in neoclassical style. The room leads to the balcony overlooking Castle Street.
A door to the right leads to the West Reception Room, with a marble chimneypiece. This room leads to the Dining Room which occupies the west side of the building. It has been described as "the most sumptuous room in the building" with Corinthian pilasters, plaster ceiling decorated with scrolls, urns and crouching dogs and below are paintings of pairs of cupids. This room is used for wedding ceremonies.
The next is a small room which leads into the Large Ballroom with massive mirrors, a niche for musicians under a semi-dome, white marble chimneypiece and three of the finest Georgian chandeliers in Europe, containing 20,000 pieces of cut glass crystal.
The upper floor consists of lavishly decorated function rooms, all connected in a circular way through the doorways.
The middle room is the Central Reception Room. It has a circular ceiling and plasterwork in neoclassical style. The room leads to the balcony overlooking Castle Street.
A door to the right leads to the West Reception Room, with a marble chimneypiece. This room leads to the Dining Room which occupies the west side of the building. It has been described as "the most sumptuous room in the building" with Corinthian pilasters, plaster ceiling decorated with scrolls, urns and crouching dogs and below are paintings of pairs of cupids. This room is used for wedding ceremonies.
The next is a small room which leads into the Large Ballroom with massive mirrors, a niche for musicians under a semi-dome, white marble chimneypiece and three of the finest Georgian chandeliers in Europe, containing 20,000 pieces of cut glass crystal.
Each weighs over
one ton.
Most of the east side of the hall is occupied by the Small Ballroom, also known as the Music Room with two niches for musicians. Suspended from the ceiling are three 19th century chandeliers.
Completing the circuit is the East Reception Room, similar in style to the West Reception Room. The rooms contain a number of portraits; one of these is of James Maury, America's first consul.
The town hall is open to the general public each month when conducted tours take place. But in the one weekend over August holiday, one can roam around freely. This is what we prefer :)
Most of the east side of the hall is occupied by the Small Ballroom, also known as the Music Room with two niches for musicians. Suspended from the ceiling are three 19th century chandeliers.
Completing the circuit is the East Reception Room, similar in style to the West Reception Room. The rooms contain a number of portraits; one of these is of James Maury, America's first consul.
The town hall is open to the general public each month when conducted tours take place. But in the one weekend over August holiday, one can roam around freely. This is what we prefer :)