Lancaster Town Hall guided tours - Summer 2008
May sees the start of the ninth summer season of guided tours around Lancaster's grand Edwardian Town Hall.
May sees the start of the ninth summer season of guided tours around Lancaster’s grand Edwardian Town Hall.
Building on the success of the previous years, tour guide, Janet Hoyle, is now preparing for the new season of tours which begins on Wednesday May 7.
Visitors to the Town Hall will be able to explore parts of the building which are normally out of bounds or rarely available to view.
From the Mayor's official parlour and impressive Ashton Hall to the old court room where Buck Ruxton appeared as well as the old police cells, the tour is a must-do for all Lancastrians and everyone interested in architecture, fine furniture and local history.
All those embarking on the tour will be given a comprehensive and illuminating talk on the building, full of anecdotes, from its conception to its current day uses.
The hour-long tours, starting at 2.30pm, will run once a week on Wednesdays all the way from May 7 through until the end of August. Tickets cost £3 (concessions £2.50) and are available in advance from Lancaster Town Hall Customer Service reception desk. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 15 persons per tour.
Commenting on this year's tours, Lancaster City Council's tour organiser, Angie Rowlands, said: "It is always a pleasure to be able to show off this magnificent town hall which is steeped in history and has something of interest for everyone.
"When we began the tours in 1999 we could not have anticipated the interest would be so great and, judging from the feedback, we can predict this year's tours will be a big hit once again."
Included in this exploration of this fine Edwardian Grade II* listed building will be:
- The imposing Council Chamber with the grand Mayor's chair.
- The Mayor’s Parlour with the fine collection of civic silver and Gillow furniture including the magnificent centrifugal table.
- The majestic Ashton Hall with its grand concert organ and the fine display of heraldic art on the ceiling.
- The former Magistrate’s Court Room complete with all the original furniture. From the prisoner’s dock visitors will be “sent down” to view the atmospheric subterranean police cells, which in 1935 held Lancasters notorious double murderer, Dr Buck Ruxton.
Date Updated: 19/03/09