Sheffield Town Hall
Template:About Template:Distinguish Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox building Sheffield Town Hall is a municipal building on Pinstone Street in the City of Sheffield, England. The building is used by Sheffield City Council, and also contains a publicly displayed collection of silverware. It is a Grade I listed building.<ref name=nhle>Template:NHLE</ref>
History
The current building, commissioned to replace the Old Town Hall, was designed by the London-based architect Edward William Mountford in the Renaissance Revival style and constructed between 1890 and 1897.<ref name=nhle/> The building was opened by Queen Victoria, using a remote control lock from her carriage, on 21 May 1897.<ref name=Council/> The turning of the key in the lock triggered a light in the building which was the signal for three concealed men to open the gates.<ref name=Council/>
An extension designed by F. E. P. Edwards was opened by the Prince of Wales on 29 May 1923.<ref name=Council>Template:Cite web</ref>
The gardens were first laid out in 1938, following the demolition of St Paul's Church. Originally named St Paul's Gardens, they were immediately nicknamed the "Peace Gardens", marking the contemporary signing of the Munich Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
An extension designed in the Brutalist style was added to the east of the Peace Gardens in 1977; nicknamed The Egg-Box after its appearance, it was demolished in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Exterior
The design of the exterior echoed to a certain extent the architecture of the adjacent St. Paul's Church of 1720 (now demolished).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During construction, the building was criticised for its expensive embellishments. The exterior is built of Stoke stone from the Stoke Hall Quarry in Grindleford, Derbyshire and is decorated with carvings by F. W. Pomeroy.<ref name=nhle/> The friezes depict the industries of Sheffield, and the 64-metre-high clock-tower is surmounted by a statue of Vulcan. The clock, by Potts of Leeds, was provided with striking and chiming trains,<ref name="Potts2006">Template:Cite book</ref> but bells were never installed in the clock-tower so they remained unused. In 2002 an electronic bell sound system was added to provide hourly strikes and Westminster-style quarter chimes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Interior
The entry contains displays relating to HMS Sheffield<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and leads to the Main Entrance Hall with a grand marble staircase. This also has an Electrolier an electric chandelier, part of the original lighting of the building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The walls include friezes including a depiction of the slaying of the Dragon of Wharncliffe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the first landing is a statue of the first Lord Mayor Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The first floor has a gallery running its length which can be divided into four sections by means of powered oak panels descending from the ceiling. The south room is the Lord Mayor's Parlour which is kept permanently divided.<ref name=Council/> On the same floor is the oak-panelled Council Room and its antechamber, which has above its door the advice "Be Ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves", a quotation from the Bible (Matthew 10:16).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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Statue of the first Lord Mayor of Sheffield
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Staircase at Sheffield Town Hall decorated for Christmas
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HMS Sheffield plaque 1941
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Staircase, with statue of the first Lord Mayor
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Slaying the Wharncliffe dragon
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Electrolier
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Lord Mayor's Parlour
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Council Chamber
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Above the door to the Council Chamber
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Council Chambers
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Mayors Parlour Room
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Main stairs
See also
References
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