Nottingham Council House

Nottingham Council House is the former city hall of Nottingham, England, and the building that defines the city's skyline. Its 61-metre (200 ft) dome rises above Old Market Square, the heart of the city centre, and is visible from many points around it.

What is the Nottingham Council House?

It is a municipal building designed in the Neo-Baroque style by the architect Thomas Cecil Howitt. Construction ran through the late 1920s, and the building was opened on 22 May 1929 by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII. Historic England dates the wider complex, which includes the adjoining Exchange Buildings, to 1924-29. The Council House was commissioned for the city council and replaced the earlier Nottingham Exchange. The original Exchange Hall had stood on the same site since 1724-26.

Howitt became City Architect of Nottingham in 1928, while the project was under way. After the Council House neared completion he opened an office in the Exchange Buildings in December 1930.

Why is it worth seeing?

The Council House is Grade II* listed, a category reserved for particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Its main landmark is the dome, which gives the façade its dominant silhouette. The ground floor houses retail units, so the building is part of everyday city life rather than a closed monument.

Inside and outside, the decoration was the work of local artists. The sculptor Joseph Else, Principal of the Nottingham School of Art from 1923 to 1939, modelled the figures on the terrace. Mural paintings by Denholm Davis are also part of the interior decoration.

Where are the famous lions?

Two stone lions guard the front of the building and are among the best-known images of Nottingham. They were carved by Joseph Else. Locals have given them several nicknames, among them "Agamemnon and Menelaus", "Leo and Oscar" and "Lennie and Ronnie". A local legend says the lions will roar if a virgin walks past them. The lions are a traditional meeting point on Old Market Square, and people often photograph themselves next to them.

How to visit

The Council House stands on the north side of Old Market Square, in the middle of Nottingham's pedestrian centre. The square is easy to reach on foot from the main shopping streets, and the dome is a useful orientation point in the city.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the dome of the Council House? It is 200 feet, or 61 metres, high.

Who designed the Council House? Thomas Cecil Howitt, in the Neo-Baroque style.

When did it open? In 1929. One source gives the opening date as 22 May 1929, performed by the Prince of Wales.

Who made the lions? The sculptor Joseph Else, who also modelled the terrace figures.

Is the building protected? Yes. It is Grade II* listed.

What stood here before? The Nottingham Exchange, whose original hall dated from 1724-26.