History Hit: Manchester Town Hall

A Remarkable Slice of Mancunian History

Grab a brew, and let’s explore the intriguing history of the Manchester Town Hall.

Back in the 19th century, Manchester was booming with industrialization and a growing population. They decided they needed a fancy building for local government stuff, you know, city hall stuff. In 1863, they held a competition to pick an architect. Alfred Waterhouse, won with his plan. His design was a mashup of Victorian Gothic and High Victorian Gothic styles – think lots of pointy arches, intricate carvings, and loads of terracotta. And let's not forget that epic tower, standing tall at 286 feet, giving London's Big Ben a run for its money!

Building this masterpiece wasn't a piece of cake. Construction began in 1868, but they didn't cut the ribbon until 1877. The whole project was like a never-ending rollercoaster of delays and budget surprises. But when they finally unveiled the Manchester Town Hall, people were blown away. That tower? Impressive. The Great Hall? Spectacular. The entire building was …