Town Hall

Town Hall or Lahore Metropolitan Corporation Hall is located on the west at junction of Upper and Lower Mall Roads. Originally built as Victoria Jubilee Town Hall dedicated to the joyful memory of the fiftieth year of the reign of Queen Victoria, construction work on the present building started in February 1887., when its foundation stone was laid by Charles Aitchison, Lieut. Governor of the Punjab. The opening of the present building took place with great fanfare and ceremony attended by Prince Albert Victor on February 3, 1890.This structure, although not very large, has an impressive presence. Consisting of two storeys, it has a large hall on the first floor, while the ground floor is dedicated to offices. As was usual with town halls of the British period, the beautifully decorated hall, with its excellent teak floor, was used for exclusive functions such as dances, concerts and meetings, although the prince in his opening speech said that he hoped that it would also be utilized for wise and quiet debates. The two-storey middle section of the building carrying an enormous lancet arch alcove is flanked by the massive three-storey corner towers, the roof line terminating with castle-like merlons. The corner towers are capped by a central dome and four onion shaped corner cupolas. In spite of its oriental imagery, and use of moldings, the detailing is comparatively simple and the flourish of molded brick or terra-cotta fretwork, found in the earlier Chief Court or the nearby Mayo School, is not in evidence. The building which was completed at a cost of Rs. 60,000, has been restored and cleaned in recent years, and once again proudly presents its original brick facing. The landscaped forecourt is dominated by an attractive fountain, said to be a gift of Raja Harbans Singh.