Sheffield Town Hall - The Interior

A fireplace with various imported marbles

Although the reception area in the Main Hall of Sheffield Town Hall is generally open to the public during working hours, access to the staircase and beyond is restricted; however, on the Heritage Open Days event, the various council chambers are accessible and these provide many fine examples of ornate woodwork, plastered ceilings and various uses of ceramic tiles.

A corridor on the first floor of Sheffield Town Hall

Continuing along the corridors that run from the top of the staircase in the Main Hall, the same variety of decorative stones line their walls and are used for various columns and associated details, with the floors being covered with mosaic tiles.

A detail of a hand basin

Everywhere you go, even in the toilets, there are examples of the finest materials and craftsmanship – with the details still being maintained in their original state. I particularly liked the Royal Doulton hand basins, set in yet another polished stone that I don't recognise, with their original taps, chains and plugs.

A fireplace with ceramic tiles

Although the various council chambers and meeting rooms are mainly notable for their woodwork, there are also some very fine fireplaces, where there are further examples of imported decorative stone and colourful ceramic tiles. 

A detail of a mosaic floor

Sheffield Town Hall regularly participates in the Heritage Open Days event and, with a bit more research to identify the various marbles and other stones used throughout the accessible parts of its interior, a tour of the building could easily form part of an urban geology trail.

Cork Red Marble used in a column

Together with the adjoining Peace Gardens, where various other stones have been used around the fountains, a full range of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks can be used to demonstrate a wide variety of geological processes.

The fountains in the Peace Gardens