Details
KINGSTON UPON HULL
TA0928NE QUEEN VICTORIA SQUARE
680-1/22/317 (West side)
12/11/73 City Hall
GV II*
City hall, former art gallery and shops. 1903-09, restored
c1950 following war damage, and altered 1986 and 1989. By JH
Hirst, City Architect. Ashlar with copper clad mansard roofs.
Baroque Revival style.
Plinth, first-floor band, dentillated main cornice, coped
parapet. 3 storeys and 3 storeys plus attics; 7x23 windows.
First-floor windows are mainly cross casements, and second
floor windows mainly narrow lights separated by square
columns, all with leaded glazing.
Eastern entrance front has a recessed centre, 5 windows, with
a 2-storey portico with 2 Composite columns, flanked by pairs
of similar columns, under a dentillated segmental pediment. In
the tympanum, a cartouche flanked by swags. Under the portico,
a central window with segmental pediment, flanked by single
windows with cornices. Beyond, single windows, also with
cornices. Above, a central 2-light window with central column,
and beyond, relief panels.
Above again, a drum with round-arched windows separated by
engaged columns. At the 4 angles, a pair of Roman Ionic
columns under a steep pitched open pediment, with large figure
sculptures at the bases. Above the dentillated cornice, a
copper dome with an open domed cupola and finial. Below, a
Doric porte-cochere with pair of square columns at the corners
and a balustraded balcony. Central revolving door flanked by
panelled square columns, and beyond, pairs of glazed doors,
all with overlights. On either side, a round-headed niche with
a life-size figure sculpture.
Slightly projecting end bays have first a first floor window
with keystone and segment-arched hood on brackets. Above, a
smaller 3-light window with stone mullions. Below, a square
opening with a C20 shop front with bronze window frames, the
right one with 2 lights.
Returns have panelled upper floors divided by composite
pilasters. On the first floor, towards the front, 2 cross
casements, and to the rear, a transomed casement, all with
keystones and segment-arched hoods on brackets. Above, two
3-light windows towards the front and a 2-light window to the
rear.
Symmetrical north and south fronts, 10 bays, have the inner 6
bays divided by pilasters which rise through the parapet to
form pedestals with moulded flat caps. Above, ramped
extensions, also with flat caps, forming buttresses to the
attic storey. Panelled upper floors have recesses with
flanking pilasters and quarter pilasters, and a second floor
cornice and frieze with figures. Each bay has a window with
keystone and segment-arched hood on brackets, and above, a
3-light window. Ground floor has 6 late C20 shop fronts.
Slightly projecting double end bays have angle pilasters
carried through the parapet to form pedestals with flat caps.
Full-width dentillated segmental pediment with crested
cartouche flanked by swags. Central pilaster and flanking
quarter-pilasters in each recess. 2 oval glazing bar windows
with segment-arched hoods, and above, two 3-light casements
with sills on foliate brackets, double keystones, and
half-round hoods. Below, 2 doorways with double keystones and
segment-arched hoods on shaped brackets. Between them, and
beyond them to the rear, a single plain window.
Former art gallery, to the rear, is a windowless block, 2
storeys; 8x10 bays. Roof not visible behind parapet. Corner
pilasters with cornice breaks. North and south sides have,
towards the front, a single entrance bay defined by a single
pilaster. First floor Diocletian window set in a recessed
panel with stepped head and swag ornaments. Frieze of
allegorical figures. Below, a doorway flanked by single Doric
columns in antis, with glazed double door and cornice. Over
the door, a coat of arms in relief.
Each side has recessed panels with rectangular ornamented
cartouches at their heads, inscribed with the names of
artists. Above each panel, a cameo portrait of the artist
flanked by allegorical figures. Ground floor has 6 square
openings with late C20 shop fronts. Rear elevation is of
similar design, with 8 panels above and 6 shop fronts below.
INTERIOR has marble panelled entrance hall with Ionic
pilasters to a round-arched blind arcade on each side.
Panelled cross beam ceiling. At the inner end, a 3-bay arcade
with coffered round arches, the larger central arch with
paired Ionic columns on pedestals, the flanking arches with
double pilasters.
Branching marble main staircase has intermediate landings and
round arches with Ionic columns on pedestals, and contrasting
coloured marble balustrades, handrail and wall panels. On the
ground floor, on either side, a 3-bay round-arched arcade with
Ionic columns, giving access to side lobbies and minor stairs.
Under the lower flight, a door in a half-domed recess. First
landing has a 2-bay arcade on each side. Top landing has
coffered coved ceiling with figure corbels and drops, and a
domed stained-glass skylight.
Main concert hall has a heavily enriched coved cross beam
ceiling with wrought-iron pendant lamps, and dentillated
cornice. At the front, a full height segment-headed recess
with panelled dado and frieze with Greek figures in relief,
containing a 3-tower organ case on a 3-bay round-arched wooden
arcade.
On either side, 5 bays divided by full height panelled
pilasters with cartouches at their heads. In each bay, at
floor level, a set back round-arched triple arcade with Ionic
marble columns giving access to narrow barrel vaulted
corridors with wooden panelling. Above, a balustraded gallery,
curved at the rear, with similar recessed arcades in each bay
giving access to side corridors. Above again, a Diocletian
window in each bay, with leaded glazing. At the front, a
doorway with moulded tympanum. At the rear, wooden panelling
with cornice and 2 pairs of glazed doors with plaster relief
panels above. On the gallery, a curved panelled wooden screen
and 2 glazed double doors.
Victoria bar, above main entrance, has wood panelled walls and
dentilated cornice and coffered ribbed glazed dome on
pendentives. At each end, a dentillated cross beam carried on
2 Corinthian columns and pilasters. At each end, a corniced
marble fireplace flanked by single doors. To the front, 3 iron
framed French windows leading to the balcony.
Former art gallery has a central rotunda with enriched
round-arched arcades with Doric columns to each bay. 4
openings, one with C20 screens and doors, and 4 half-domed
recesses. Vine trail frieze and dentillated cornice. Enriched
ribbed dome with skylight.
On either side, a hall with moulded cross beam ceiling,
cornice and picture rail, and round-arched opening to rotunda.
West hall has 2 pairs of doors to south, and to north-east, an
opening with 2 square piers. East hall has 2 pairs of doors to
the concert hall, and to north, 2 openings with square
columns, the right one blocked.
An important civic building and a major work of the first City
Architect.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Yorkshire: York and The East
Riding: Harmondsworth: 1972-: 271-272).
Listing NGR: TA0954228763
