Belfast City Hall

as it was in 1888. Now replaced by the City Hall.|alt=A black and white photograph, showing a stately-looking two-storey building with white walls, extending out of shot to the left and right, with an arched cart entrance at the centre. A modest clocktower rises above the entrance, and the building is surrounded by neat shrubbery and iron railings. A wide street crosses left-right outside of the fence, with a handful of horse-drawn carts and pedestrians in 19th-century clothing.]] Belfast City Hall was commissioned to replace the Old Town Hall in Victoria Street. The catalyst for change came in 1888 when Belfast was awarded city status by Queen Victoria. This was in recognition of Belfast's…

The interior has a number of notable features including the Porte-Cochère and Grand Entrance, the Grand Staircase, the Reception Room and the Banqueting Hall. The roof above the Banqueting Hall was destroyed during the Belfast blitz on the night of 4/5 May 1941 and had to be rebuilt. Carrara, Pavonazzo and Brescia marbles are used extensively throughout the building as are stained glass windows featuring among others the Belfast coat of arms, portraits of Queen Victoria and William III and shields of the provinces of Ireland. There is also a stained glass window commemorating the 36th (Ulster) Division. Parts of Belfast City Hall are open to the public, with a permanent exhibition opening…