Queen Victoria opening the Town Hall

Artist's impression of the visit of Queen Victoria, to open the new Leeds Town Hall. Hull architect Cuthbert Brodrick won a design competition and was commissioned to build the Town Hall. The legal services were transferred here from the Court House on Park Row. In the north east corner on the ground floor was the Civil Court, and rooms for witnesses and court officials. At the opposite, north west corner was the Crown Court, connected by a stone staircase in the dock to the prison in the basement. Along the west corridor were more rooms for court officials, and in the south west corner, the Borough Court, the dock again connected to the basement by an iron staircase. The chief of Police had his office beside this court. In the basement on the west side of the building was the police headquarters, with the gaol and the gaolers residence. In the south west corner, under the borough court was the police muster room, and the large space under the Victoria Hall was used as a drill room by the police. The Bridewell, or the 'Central Charge Office' as it was officially known was in the north west corner, with access from the street provided by a door on the west side of the building.