Category: T Cecil Howitt

Nottingham Architects, T Cecil Howitt

A tour of the Council House with the former Lord Mayor

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Earlier this year, the former Lord Mayor of Nottingham Wendy Smith accompanied me on the Watson Fothergill Walk… this week she invited me to take a tour of the interior of the Council House with her. As a former mayor, she knows more than most about this historic building. Completed in 1929, it was designed by architect Thomas Cecil Howitt. Inside there are lots of beautiful original details, domes, stained glass, walnut wood panelling and made-to-measure furniture. Here are some photos from my visit.

The interior dome over the central staircase
Mural by Noel Denholm Davis representing “commerce” and statue “Welcome” by William Reid Dick
Council Chamber ceiling and frieze by sculptor Joseph Else
The author takes a turn in the Mayor’s chair in the Council Chamber. (It’s on rails so you can hutch up!)
The Ballroom (being made ready for a Citizenship Ceremony) view from the minstrel’s gallery.
Beautiful original Electroliers in The Ballroom (electric light chandeliers).
The view out over the Exchange Arcade (Murals by Noel Denholm Davis just visible) The rents from the shops help pay for the upkeep of the building. The Exchange Arcade was inspired by Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.
The architect of Nottingham’s Council House Thomas Cecil Howitt (photo displayed in the Lord Mayor’s parlour) – he also built some of Nottingham Council Housing in the post WW1 period, the Home Brewery and Raleigh’s HQ.
Stained Glass from the original Exchange Building which was demolished in 1926 to make way for this building. , representing architecture. (Lord Mayor’s Parlour)
Telephone Booth in the entrance of The Council House (one of a pair with the Enquiries booth).

All photos taken by Lucy Brouwer.

If you’d like to book a tour of the Council House please contact Nottingham City Council via this link. (Please don’t contact me – only special volunteers can lead the free tours!) You can also hire rooms in The Council House for weddings and special occasions.

Huge thanks to Wendy for showing me around and telling me all about the rooms, their functions and the history of the building.

Purchase a copy of this book

I still have a few copies of Nottingham Civic Society’s book on the Council House with some excellent colour photos by Martine Hamilton Knight – available for sale in the webshop.

An earlier photo of the Council House by Lucy Brouwer

Remember to look up next time you’re in town and notice the decorations (sculptures by Joseph Else and his students outside and Noel Denholm Davis inside the Exchange Arcade) on Nottingham’s magnificent Council House!

Events, T Cecil Howitt, talk, Watson Fothergill in Nottingham

Watson Fothergill and Thomas Cecil Howitt: Nottinghamshire Archives

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Nottinghamshire Archives Talk

I’ve been asked to give a talk at Nottinghamshire Archives. To mark 90 years since the opening of the Council House, that impressive symbol of civic pride at the centre of Nottingham, I’m going to be talking about two of Nottingham’s favourite architects, Watson Fothergill and Thomas Cecil Howitt and looking for links between them.

I will be giving an illustrated talk mostly looking at Fothergill’s buildings around the Market Square and T. Cecil Howitt’s Council House and Exchange Arcade which opened in 1929.

There will also be chance to examine archive materials relating to the two architects and their buildings.

The event is on 10 May 2019, 2.30pm. Tickets are £5 each, available from the archives via Eventbrite. There are a limited number of free tickets for FONA (Friends of Nottinghamshire Archives) members.

The Hine Hike

Meanwhile there are still a few tickets left for my Thomas Chambers Hine walk, The Hine Hike, on 14 April 2019. Tickets are £12 each and include a hot drink and a cake at Debbie Bryan at the end of the walk.

Mother’s Day Heritage Tour

There is still time to join me as part of Debbie Bryan’s special Mother’s Day programme of events (31 March 2019. I will be leading a short tour of the architecture of The Lace Market, and your ticket includes a cream tea or afternoon tea (vegan and gluten free options available on request) at Debbie Bryan. Tickets here.

I will be adding more dates for The Watson Fothergill Walk soon, so sign up to the mailing list to get them as soon as they are announced.