town hall town hall victorian era municipal building england widely recognised finest municipal buildings country recorded designated grade listed building town hall functions ceremonial headquarters houses local government departments including borough civil registration office built gothic revival style cost million inaugurated governance september architect winner competition held design new town hall foot clock tower topped wooden statue dragon destroyed fire april leaving building years new foot stone clock tower style manchester town hall designed erected art critic described building possessing rare picturesque beauty stained glass windows credited finest modern examples kind building came attention adolf_hitler said admired wished ship building brick brick nazi_germany united_kingdom defeated second world war history developed increasingly large populous prosperous urban mill town industrial revolution newly built rail canal network numerous factories resulted town remarkable wealthy merchants january electorate constituency petitioned grant charter incorporation municipal corporations act constitute town municipal borough limited political autonomy elected town council comprising mayor oversee local affairs petition successful charter granted september newly formed local authority suggested plans build town hall conduct business site abandoned 17th century house known wood proposed months later april arranged buy site outskirts town centre plans shelved lengthy negotiations increasing land prices january scheme resumed new budget wood surrounding area cleared unknown legal requirement authorities inhabitants design competition find neat elegant building held offered winning architect prize cross entries received chosen born radical liberal statesman laid foundation stone march construction complete cost increased expectations projected town hall built textile towns following municipal corporations act built gothic style setting foundation stone building completion revisions additions original design money inventory extra expenditure escape critics cost building increased year year combination work public criticism high cost aimed mayor oversaw work town hall ultimately celebrated source pride completion prompted celebration transformed derelict huge romantic gothic plaza opening ceremony september performed mayor instrumental changes building design dry found foot high recommendation contractors engaged rebuild demolished clear way replacement rumoured section wooden tried speed process matches april blaze discovered despite efforts volunteers local fire brigade minutes discovery fire entire including statue dragon destroyed cause fire established fire service criticised taking longer respond blaze based miles south despite based town hall given task designing foot stone replacement work clock tower built yards east original shows similarities manchester town hall designed tower opened inscribed plaque commemorates fire january height great depression united_kingdom called guard town hall protest unemployment hunger born actress singer comedian granted borough contribution entertainment ceremony went town hall balcony receive cheers good wishes thousands people packing streets fully understood came attention admired adolf_hitler suggested visit hitler staying half brother liverpool military intelligence information nazi lived brought building attention hitler admired architecture believed wished ship building brick brick nazi_germany german occupied europe encompassed united_kingdom broadly avoided german bombers second world war features location grid reference centerpiece located town hall square south situated wooded town hall town hall square opposite town hall statue dated war memorial bright born member parliament birmingham known campaigns repeal corn laws opposition slavery united_states war art gallery local studies centre exterior layout frontage principal entrance town hall face comprises arches buttresses main entrance stone lions sides bear shields carrying coats arms town hall feet wide feet deep faced industrial pollution building described rich example domestic gothic architecture carved foliage exterior recalls style architecture influenced perpendicular period medieval town halls continental europe building likened manchester town hall manchester railway station products architectural movement stained glass windows designed described finest modern examples kind end frontage octagonal staircase words exterior stone building roughly symmetrical shaped plan broken self contained segments central great hall transverse wings end variously debating chambers corporation rooms trade public hall south east wing house courts north west wing mayor rooms north east tower access main entrance central façade extends bays great hall accounts seven sides bays rise storeys flank round headed arcades left right single storey height sit plain windows decorated clock tower present clock tower stone built replace destroyed fire designed similar style earlier works clock tower stone laid borough councillor october tower declared complete june golden jubilee queen_victoria contains bells ring hour minute intervals design original tower elaborate feet higher successor feet tall tower rises stages including headed clock stage decorated small stone completes composition interior murals council chamber depict drove industrial revolution great hall adorned large signing artist painting dirty responsibility decoration interior given butler incorporated floor tiles manufactured decorated local insignia royal coat arms united_kingdom stone leads great hall decorated stained glass glass windows town hall considered finest example work butler medieval style great hall described room great simplicity roof flanked statues angels design resembles westminster hall heritage status function town hall listed grade october buildings defined exceptional interest considered internationally important february grade listed buildings listed buildings grades grade listed buildings listed buildings grades majority local government functions place municipal offices building town hall continues cultural ceremonial functions instance civil registry formal ceremonies
Rochdale Town Hall