Town Hall

From Chester Wiki

Chester Town Hall was desinged by the Belfast architect W. H. Lynn and is said to be based on the medieval "Cloth Hall" in Ypres, Flanders. It was opened on October 15th 1869 by the Prince of Wales (and then also Earl of Chester), later King Edward VII.

The porch contains four sculptures in Bath stone. These depict:

• Roman soldiers building the Walls of Chester see: Roman remains;
• Egbert (802-39), King of the West Saxons and conqueror of Mercia see: Dark Age Chester;
• The entry of Charles I into Chester in 1642 (see: Civil War); and
• Hugh of Avranches receiving the earldom of Chester from William the Conqueror, c.1077 see also The Earls of Chester.

Sculptures at the end of the Waiting Hall depict Edward the Black Prince (Earl of Chester (1330-76) see: "Royal earls") granting a charter in 1354; and Henry VII (1485-1509) granting Chester county status in 1506.

Above the central doors of the Assembly Room, a sculpture shows a group of minstrels marching to the aid of Ranulf_of_Blundeville, who was besieged by the Welsh in Rhuddlan Castle. The story depicted (which appears to have taken place sometime around 1198-1205) is found in Leycester's Prolegomena:

• Being distressed by the Welsh and forced to retreat to the castle of Rethelent (Rhuddlan) in Flintshire, where they besieged him, he presently sent to his Constable of Chester, Roger de Lacy, surnamed 'Hell' [Yclept] for his fierce spirit, that he would come with all speed and bring what forces he would towards his relief ..

It was the time of the Midsummer's Fair. de Lacy gathered a large group of fiddlers, players and cobblers and marched them immediately to the earl's rescue. Seeing a great multitude approaching, the besiegers fled. It may be that it was because of this event that Hugh Dutton, Roger's seneschal at Halton Castle was granted control and licencing of the musicians of Cheshire by Roger - see Minstrel Court.

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 (see: Civil War).

On display in the Mayor's Parlour at the Town Hall is a clock, carved to resemble the west front of Chester Cathedral, is one of six similar clocks presented to HMS Chester by the citizens of Chester in May 1916.

Inside the town hall are stained glass windows depicting the earls:

• John Canmore
• Ranulf of Blundeville
• Hugh of Cyfeiliog
• Ranulf de Gernon
• Ranulf de Meschines
• Richard of Avranches
• Hugh of Avranches
• Gherbod the Fleming

see also The Earls of Chester. There are also eight late 16thcentury (1578) painted boards depicting the Norman earls and Edric Sylvestris (Eadric the wild), supposed ancestor of the Sylvesters of Storeton in Wirral. The depictions are entirely imaginary as they show the earls in Tudor armour. These panels were formerly in the possession of the Stanleys of Hooton, they were purchased by Sir Thomas Gibbons Frost and presented by him to the city during his mayoralty in 1883.

The old police station used to be in the cellars of the Town Hall. It's rooms are now the records office but the cells still exist. In April 1966, the infamous 'moors murderers', Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were held there while facing trial at Chester Castle.

[edit] works of sculpture

• A Celebration of Chester (sculpture)
• Bronze bust of George V (sculpture)
• Bust of Horatio Lloyd (sculpture)
• Town Hall Clock
• Figures of Minstrels (sculpture)
• Ranulph III (sculpture)
• Henry VII Granting Chester County Status in 1506
• James II on his Visit to Chester in 1687
• Edward I receiving homage(sculpture)
• Edward the Black Prince (sculpture)
• William Brierton (sculpture)

[edit] links and sources

• Chester Town Hall on British History Online
• The Virtual Town Hall on the City Council site (features some 360 tours).
• The Town Hall at Virtual Stroll
• A history and very detailed description of the Police Station at the Town Hall.