History of the Town Hall
Today, most of the City Council's departments are
housed in the Forum Offices which were opened in 1973
and are located adjacent to the Town Hall. However the
Town Hall itself is still regarded as the symbolic
expression of civic government, having changed very
little in external appearance since its completion in
1869.
The entrance is approached by two flights of steps
from Northgate Street. The year of completion, 1869, and
the armorial bearings used by Chester until 1974 are
carved above the porch which also contains four
sculptures in Bath stone. These depict Roman soldiers
building the walls of Chester; Egbert (802-39), King of
the West Saxons and conqueror of Mercia; the entry of
Charles I into Chester in 1642; and Hugh I receiving the
earldom of Chester from William the Conqueror, c.1077.
The Waiting Hall
The Waiting Hall contains a number of interesting
features. Flanking the entrance doors are busts of
George V (1910-36), who visited Chester in 1914 and Sir
Horatio Lloyd, Recorder of Chester from 1866 until 1921.
Above the central doors of the Assembly Room, a
sculpture shows a group of minstrels marching to the aid
of Sir Ranulph III (1181-1232), who was besieged by the
Welsh in Rhuddlan Castle; and above the entrance to the
Court Room, Sir William Brereton is shown before the
Mayor's court, following his arrest in 1642 for
attempting to raise recruits for the Parliamentary army.
Sculptures at the end of the Waiting Hall depict
Edward the Black Prince (1330-76) granting a charter in
1354; and Henry VII (1485-1509) granting Chester county
status in 1506.
The war memorial outside the Assembly Room bears the
names of 768 Chester citizens who died during the First
World War. A small plaque commemorates all those people
from Chester who died during the Second World War.
The tapestry, at the far end of the Waiting Hall was
inspired by European Architectural Heritage Year 1975.
The theme is 'Chester Today'.
The circular stained glass window at the end of the
hall shows the common seal of the City.
Assembly Room
This is the largest room in the Town Hall. Above the
stage is painted the former armorial bearings of
Chester, with the city motto, 'Antiqui Colant Antiquum
Dierum', which may be translated as 'Let the ancients
worship the ancient of days'. The armorial bearings are
also depicted in the circular stained glass window.
Court Room
Until the abolition of Quarter Sessions by the Courts
Act 1971, Quarter Sessions for the City of Chester were
held in the court. After that time until April 1993, it
was used as a Magistrates Court, with the adjoining room
used as a retiring room for the Magistrates.
Staircase, Balcony and Landing
The shields and plaques that decorate the staircase
wall have been presented by distinguished visitors to
the Town Hall.
On the half landing is a memorial presented to the
City of Chester by the Polish Air Force Unit at Sealand,
Chester on Poland's National Day, 3 August 1944.
The Victorian stained glass windows above the
staircase depict Gherbod the Fleming, who was given the
Earldom of Chester by William the Conqueror, and the
seven Norman Earls of Chester; Hugh I (c.1077-1101) who
was known as Hugh Lupus; Richard (1101-20); Ranulph I
(1120-28); Ranulph II (1128-53); Hugh II (1153-81);
Ranulph III (1181-1232); and John the Scot (1232-37).
The portraits on the upper staircase wall also depict
the Norman Earls, but are entirely imaginary. They were
painted in 1578 and show the Earls in Tudor armour.
The three sculptures on the landing are Earl Ranulph
III granting a charter to the citizens; Prince Edward,
later Edward I (1272-1307) receiving homage; and James
II (1685-88) being welcomed on his visit to Chester in
1687.
Council Chamber
The Council Chamber is a particularly impressive
room, which is oak panelled and adorned with splendid
carvings in wood and stone.
Chester's former armorial bearings and the arms of
the Prince of Wales as Earl of Chester are carved in
wood above the fireplace. The Chamber also contains the
grant of new armorial bearings received from the college
of Arms in 1977.
On 27 March 1897, the Council Chamber was completely
gutted by fire, but was restored the following year. The
gallery clock was presented by John Goodie Holmes, Mayor
of Chester in 1897-98.
Lord Mayoral Suite
This consists of the Lord Mayor's Parlour and the
Lady Mayoress's Parlour, used for the reception of civic
visitors.
On display in the Mayor's Parlour are two eighteenth
century sword and mace stands. The clock, carved to
resemble the west front of Chester Cathedral, is one of
six similar clocks presented to the light cruiser, HMS
Chester by the Citizens in May 1916. The ship took part
in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and is remembered
especially for the heroism of John Travers Cornwell, V.C.
The most interesting features of the Mayoress's
Parlour are the nine portraits of founders of local
charities, painted on the wainscotting, rescued from the
council room of the Exchange Building in 1862.
Committee Room
The room adjacent to the Lord Mayor's Parlour is now
mainly used for meetings of committees of the City
Council. The panels bear the names of the Mayors of
Chester from 1238, Lord Mayors from 1991, the Sheriffs
from 1836, the Norman and Royal Earls from c.1070, the
Clerks and Town Clerks from 1291 and Recorders from
1506. There is also a roll of Honorary Freemen of
Chester from 1897, including the present Prince of
Wales.
Members' Room
The Members' Room is for the use of Members of the
City Council. The Panelling on the walls outside the
room bear the names of the Chairmen of Chester and
Tarvin Rural District Councils and the Clerks of Tarvin
Rural District Council.
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