22/07/2008
Town Hall tours
Visitors are being invited to look around one of Liverpool's finest buildings in the city's Capital of Culture year.
For two week in August the Town Hall will throw open its doors and give people the chance to browse around and follow in the footsteps of famous visitors including the Queen and the Dalai Lama.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Steve Rotheram said: "The Town Hall is a treasure trove of wonderful artefacts and civic memorabilia. It is extremely popular, but with all the civic events, weddings and conferences that take place there's normally too much going on for people to be able to take a really good look around.
"I'm delighted that we're now able to throw open its doors. It's an amazing building, from the Council Chamber to the ballrooms, Hall of Remembrance and incredible blue and gold dome. It really is worth coming and taking a look at one of Liverpool's most historic buildings in the city's year as Capital of Culture."
Work on the current Town Hall began in 1749 and was completed in 1820. The magnificent statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom and protector of cities, stands on top of the dome erected in 1802.
Edward VII compared the Town Hall's incredible rooms to the Czar's Winter Palace in St Petersburg, and described them as being 'the best proportioned in all Europe'.
As well as amazing examples of regency furniture, the Town Hall also has three of the finest Georgian chandeliers in Europe - each containing 20,000 pieces of cut glass crystal and weighing more than a tonne.
The Large Ballroom has a spring maple dance floor, and at each end of the room are massive mirrors so people can admire themselves during balls and banquets.
And the Hall of Remembrance, opened by the Duke of Windsor - then Prince of Wales - in 1921, contains in its Roll of Honour the names of more than 13,000 men from Liverpool who lost their lives during the First World War.
This year Liverpool's Royal Charters will be on display and a special exhibition of pictures of the Liverpool blitz plus the incomparable Superlordmayorbanana.
The Town Hall open days take place daily from Monday 11th August until Sunday 24th August between 10.20am and 4.30pm.
FREE Guided Tours will take place every half hour, from 10.30am until the last tour at 3.30pm, and last approximately 50 minutes.
Due to their popularity, pre-booking is recommended. To book contact the Town Hall on 0151 225 5530. There is a maximum of 25 people per tour. Refreshments are available in the Town Hall café.
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