The current Town Hall Building in the centre of Sheffield is one of only two Grade 1 listed Buildings in Sheffield. Built in 1890 this is the fourth Town Hall Building that the City has had.
The first Town Hall Building was built in 1637. The second Town Hall Building was used between 1700 and 1808, whilst the third Building was used between 1808 and 1897.
The current Town Hall Building is located on Pinstone Street right in the centre of the City. This impressive looking piece of Architecture took seven years to build so it did not officially open until the 21st May 1897 when it was opened by Queen Victoria.
It was designed by a London based Architect called E.W Mountford, with an extension designed by F.E.P Edwards completed in 1923.
The design was based largely on that of St. Paul's Church that occupied
the land adjacent to where the Town Hall stands. This Church was built in 1720 but is now demolished.
The exterior of the Building is constructed of Stone from the Stoke Quarry in Grindleford, Derbyshire and there are many carvings and fancy decorations on the outer walls designed by F W Pomperey. There are also several Friezes that depict the Steel Industry that made the City famous, but the main focal point of the Building is without a doubt a 64 metre high Clock tower that sits below a Bronze Statue of a Vulcan.
For most of the time the majority of this Building is sadly out of bounds to the General Public. It is used by the Sheffield City Council as their offices but every year during the whole month of August large areas of the Building that are normally out of bounds are opened up to the Public and free guided tours take place.
During the rest of the year the main reception area is open to the Public everyday between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Fridays. The City's Registrar Office is now also located within this Town Hall Building.
The Reception area is incredibly grand with an ornate interior of wonderfully decorative stonework. The Ceiling is very high and consists of whitewashed Plaster, whist there are Italian Marble Pillars and a mosaic tiled Floor. A red velvet Carpet leads up a staircase and there seems to be Statues everywhere.
The Registrar's Office gives the visitor a further excuse to explore the interior of the Town Hall Building between the months of September through to July.
The area of the Building set aside for the Register's Office continues the grand theme that has been set by the Reception, the Reception being the first point of contact within the Building once you have climbed the outer steps and walked through the Doorway.
The Registrar's Office occupies three separate rooms, each with their own individual style and charm. These have all recently been completely renovated with thick, plush Carpets and wooden Pews.
The guided tour takes you to the areas of the Building that you would not normally see. These include four different huge conference rooms plus a function room, complete with glass chandeliers that has its own Kitchen and catering facilities. All of these rooms have been designed so that they receive the maximum amount of natural daylight.
It is four years ago when I took this tour but I am assuming that little will have changed during that time. Although during my visit the Registrar's Office was still under construction. The highlight of the tour for me was the walk up to the Clock tower which is accessed by several flights of spiral steps.
One downside of this Building is that it is not particularly easily accessible for people that are disabled or in wheelchairs. There are many flights of stairs and no lifts. Due to the age of the Building and the fact that this is a Grade 1 listed Building there is very little that can be done to improve this. The Reception area is however accessible by wheelchairs and there is a hearing loop installed here for those that have impaired hearing.
A visit to the Sheffield Town Hall is highly recommended. If it could be summed up in just a single word then I guess that it would be - Lavish. There are certainly no comprises here for our elected Councillors.
I have vissted the town hall on my last vist to sheffield, really is a lovely building, and like you, thought the spiral steps and the clock tour was the best bit of the tour, great review. Dempsey
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: It's big, has music to suit many tastes and isn't too expensive Disadvantages: I have heard of cases of drinks being spiked by other clubbers, though the police have caught them
very helpful by (100%):
