3-071-145 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Westminster Townhall, opened by the Duke of Buccleuch, High Steward, 1883. 'This building has been erected in Caxton-street and Palmer's-street, for the accommodation of the United Vestries and Board of Works of the Parishes of St. Margaret and St. John. The cost of its erection was defrayed from part of the proceeds of the sale of the Marloes-road Workhouse. The Townhall was opened on Thursday, by the High Steward of Westminster, his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch...The architects of this building are Messrs. Lee and Smith, of Queen Victoria street, City. It is designed in the Renaissance style, the fronts being decorated with cornices, pilasters, string-courses richly moulded, panels containing medallion portraits of famous Englishmen, and figures of Peace and Plenty in the spandrils above the principal entrance in Caxton-street, which has also carved figures of St. Margaret and St. John, and of the Queen and the Prince of Wales. The interior contains...the Vestry-Hall, which is 55 ft. by 40 ft. and 25 ft. high, with stained-glass windows, the designs of which represent notable scenes in the history of Westminster. The cost of the Townhall has been about £30,000; the builders were Messrs. W. and D. M'Gregor, of Edinburgh'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.