The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-19 00:00:00

OPENING OF ST. GEORGE'S HALL.

LIVERPOOL, Monday.—The long-expected opening of
this magnificent specimen of architectural skill and cor-
porate enterprise took place this morning, under auspices
the most favourable. It had been imagined that her Ma-
jesty would have honoured the ceremony with her pre-
sence ; but her visit to Balmoral at this period being fixed,
the Queen declined the invitation which had been for-
warded, and the corporate authorities of Liverpool, as-
sisted by the leading nobility and gentry of the neighbour-
hood, were thus compelled to take upon themselves the
inauguration of this noble hall, which now stands unrivalled
in the empire as the masterpiece of its class of human in-
genuity and perseverance.
The throwing open to-day of St. George's Hall is esa
event which the pages of history alone can truly recognise;
it would be quite impossible to convey in mere words the
amount of interest which was manifested by all classes of
the inhabitants in desiring to exhibit their feelings of ap-
probation of the course pursued this morning. The de-
monstration was most complete, and was as satisfactory as
could be wished. Nine o'clock was the hour named for
the admission of ticket-holders (21s. each, and the pro-
ceeds to be devoted to the charities) ; but for a consider-
able period before that hour the various approaches
to the hall were crowded with spectators anxious to wit-
ness the arrivals. As time wore on the streets adjacent
to the buildings were densely packed, and it was with
the utmost difficulty the carriages were enabled to pro-
ceed. Flags and banners streamed from the windows on
all sides, and occasional festoons and garlands greatly en•
hanced the scene, which was of the most animating and
interesting description.
A large body of police, under the immediate command
of Major Greig and other superintendents, was busily en-
gaged in preserving proper order, and in carrying out their
instructions to prevent pressure, which duty they per-
formed admirably.
The morning was exceedingly fine, and induced large
numbers of persons to visit Liverpool from the surround-
ing country, but it was much to be regretted that as the
afternoon advanced the rain descended, bat not in such a
quantity as very materially to mar the proceedings.
St. George's Hall is situated on an immense piece of
ground in Lime-street, and directly opposite the beautiful
station of the London and North-Western Railway. It
has been erected by the corporation of Liverpool for the
purpose of giving increased facilities for the accommoda-
tion of the courts of assizes, sessions, &c. It was at first
intended that the assize courts and St. George's Hall
should form two separate and distinct structures,
and premiums were offered for separate plans of the
assize courts and the hall, in both of which Mr. Henry
Lonsdale Elmes was the successful competitor, out of
seventy-five for the courts, and eighty-six for the hall.
The original design, however, was abandoned, and the
architect was directed to remodel his plans, and his de-
sign was finally, after a great deal of anxious delibera-
tion, approved of in May, 1811, by the Liverpool town
council, and during the same year the foundation-stone
was laid by William Rathbone, Esq., then mayor of Liver-
pool. The building advanced rapidly, and in 1851 was
sufficiently advanced to be opened by her gracious Ma-
jesty, during the mayoralty of Sir John Bent.
A short description of this magnificent structure will,
we are sure, prove interesting to our readers.
The order adopted throughout is Corinthian, and ar-
ranged throughout so as to produce the richest polystyle
composition, with a more than ordinary degree of variety
and contrast. The northern aspect of the building is semi-
circular, the columns being eight in number and attached.
Viewed from the north-east a very striking effect is caused
by this projection and the long row of pillars on the eastern
facade. The eastern façade (or longer side of the building)
is 420 feet long (being 38 feet less than the National Gal-
lery, Trafalgar-square, London, and much loftier, being
(the columns) 45 feet high, and 4 feet 6 inches in diameter.
The central colonnade advances 26 feet and extends 200
feet. On either side the subordinate portion of the facade
is extremely effective, and a striking contrast has been
produced by the introduction of square pillars and pedi-
ments for statuary on the screen which rises between them.
Viewing the building from the south-east another change
presents itself, and is perhaps the most commanding
view which can be obtained. The entire of the southern
entrance, and the whole range of columns on the
eastern façade, come within the range of the eye. The
south front is, indeed, a noble design and specimen of
art and workmanship, and were it not that the ground
sinks to the extent cf 16 feet, the effect would be all
that could be desired. To remedy this, however, a
terrace has been constructed, from which the portico and
its stybolate (carried onwards to the eastern side) arise.
The height from the ground line to the pediment is 95 feet.
In this portico, which recedes 24 feet, there is a double
row of massive, lofty pillars, eight in front and four
within, and above these is a piece of finely executed and
emblematic sculpture and well worthy of careful inspec-
tion. The figures are large and numerous, the weight of
the whole being over 50 tons. In style the western por-
tion of the hall differs materially from the other three.
Corresponding with the projecting façade on the eastern
side there is a lofty screen, with square Corinthian pillars,
extending upwards. Inserted in the screen are windows
I which throw light into the various small apartments or
chambers connected with the law courts. The front of
St. George's Hall greatly surpasses anything of the kind
yet attempted in the metropolis ; yet it appears little more
' than a subordinate portion of the whole when compared
with the magnificent eastern façade. Independent of its
beauties of design (of which we have previously spoken),
we must say that the latter has the merit of clearly ex-
pressing the general interior arrangement of the plan ;
the advanced colonnade in the centre is 200 feet in length,
and (being raised) forms within an ample sheltered ambu-
latory of 26 feet, corresponding with St. George's Hall,
which we should say comes between the assize courts,
and defines itself externally in the composition,
by being carried up higher than - the rest. This
division of the front consists of 15 inner columns.
The interior of the hall measures 169 feet by 75, the height
being 82 feet. It is lighted by gallery windows in the
west, and by windows near the roof, in arched recesses at
the ends. The breadth of the hall is increased to 100 feat
by ten recesses—five on either side, 12 feet in depth, con-
taining
five rows of benches. The organ is placed at the
north end, occupying the space between four of the lofty,
beautifully polished red granite pillars which support the
roof, and nearly fills the entire breadth of the hall. The
workmanship
.within the building is massive like that
without, and the greater part of the carpentry is of highly
polished oak. At the south there is the Nisi Prius Court
i and grand jury room, at the north the Crown Court and a
large concert room, on a level with the noble cl,amber in
the centre. There are also court rooms for the duchy of
Lancaster and for the sheriff, and several other apartment',
including a library. There are three entrances to the splen-
did structure, the chief by the south portico, on each side
I of which a noble staircase extends to recessed galleries of
the great hall. The nor thernentranoe is through an apart-

meat under the semi-circular concert-room, and the third
entrance is from the eastern façade, opening directly into
the corridor which passes round the hall. There are six
entrances to the ground floor of the hall, three on either
side from the corridors. These are flanked with grey
granite pillars, on which are hung brass doors of remark-
able workmanship, which cost about 2501. each. The great
hall is paved with tesselated tiles, manufactured by Min-
ton. The design is as follows :—The general form consists
of three circles—the central, which is largest, being about
ten feet in diameter, and on each side of this, towards the
ends of the hall, is a smaller circle, which is again sur-
rounded by four still smaller, the ends being terminated
by areas of a similar radius to the largo central circle.
These circular compartments are all of them surmounted
with bands of classical ornament, which intersect at the
junction of one circular compartment with the other, after
the manner of the guilloche ornament, uniting the whole
into one grand design. The field of the floor is a diapered
ground-wo-rk, of ornamental encaustic tiles, in blue, red,
buff, chocolate, and white ; the diaper is also divided into
panes by bands of chocolate tiles, mix inches wide, their
Points of intersection being formed by white tiles, having
a rod and black ornament, giving the whole a brilliant yet
rich and chaste effect. In the centre of the large circular
compartment, and immediately in the centre of the floor,
is introduced the Royal arms on a blue ground, about five
feet in diameter, surrounded by a laurel wreath, from
which radiates a star of 16 points, between which appear
the caduceus of Mercury ; this is surrounded by a richly
ornamented border three feet in width, bearing tritons,
dolphins, and other figures emblematic of the seas, which
is again surrounded by bands and borders, of rich classi-
cal ornament, appropriate to the enrichments of the build-
ing. In the centre of the two smaller circles is placed the
arms of Liverpool, surrounded by designs similar to the
Royal arras, and in the centres of the other small circular
compartments is placed alternately the star of St. George,
and the thistle, rose, and shamrock, which is repeated in
another form in the diaper. The raised platform is laid
with encaustic tiles of a similar design to the diapered
ground centre, formed into panels the length of the
spaces within the doors by rich inscriptions in Eng.
lish and Latin, appropriate to the figures emblematical
of Justice, Temperance, Prudence, Art, Science, &c.,
which. are seen above between the pillars and the roof.
Opposite to each of the doors are rich circular panels, bear-
ing 41n the centre a dolphin in proper colours on a deep blue
gro and, surrounded by a rich framework of ornament.
In the space immediately under the organ-gallery the
creitt of the Prince of Wales is introduced; surrounded by
laurel wreath, and bands of geometrical and foliated orna-
ment, the whole forming a beautiful panel of about 20 feet
iu diameter; the panels pit each of the four corners of the
float...are also richly ornamented, and bear the motto of the
corporation, " Deus nobis hwc otia fecit." These tiles
cost 4,0001., faxclusive of laying down.
Looking 1'43 to the galleries the balustrade is remarkably
strilth lg. rrzhis is composed of black and variegated marble,
with f ler,,entine slabs at intervals. Serpentine is likewise
intro( lucid upon the walls. The roof is supported by 22
red g rants pillars of large diameter. Rising above the
caPi t ale, and be,tween the minor arches of the galleries, are
12 ec nblematic sculptures in bas-relief—white on pale blue,
ext. timely beautiful and chaste. Within each of these ten
get' knits the work of the sovapter like Author wierued the

building, and the ceiling, which is arched, is one of the
most splendid specimens of chaste decoration. The 15
shields, duly blazoned, and the gilded stars, are the most
striking objects —but one knows not whether most to ad..
mire the classic character of the designs about the ceiling,
or the colouring of pale blue and white and delicate red
with which the work is finished.

In niches between the pillars are 20 white marble plinths
for statues, and those of Peel and Stephenson are among
the first to adorn the ball.

The whole apartments are warmed by hot-water pipes,
and great attention has been paid to ventilation. In fact,
for this and for the wind-chests of the organ, a powerful
steam-engine works in the vaults below.
The lighting of this gorgeous hall was a subject of Borne
consideration to the committee ; and although we are not
aware that a plan similar to that so effectively adopted in
the Philharmonic Hall was ever contemplated, the mode
selected is very satisfactory, and the design of the burners
are in keeping with the architecture. Before each of the
ten recesses a gasalier depends from a design in the ceiling,
representing the prow of a ship. This projects the burners
under the great arch, and produces little shadow, and as
the lights range with the capitals of the colernns the eye
is not distressed with undue brilliancy. The burners aro
arranged in double circlets.

The unrivalled and in some respects uniqur, organ in St.
George's Hall also claims attention. The instrument con-
sists of four rows of keys, and there are 103 stops and 8000
pipes, varying in length from 32 feet to three-eighths of an
inch, 10 octaves apart.
The grand source of the wind is from two immense
bellows, each having three feeders, placed in the vaults
below the floor of the hall.
,These are blown by a steam-
engine, consisting of a pair of oscillating cylinders. There
are, besides, 12 other bellows or reservoirs, each giving its
own appropriate pressure of air to those stops or pipes
which it supplies.

The concert-room, at the north end of the building, is
horse-shoe shaped, and elegantly fitted up ; the boxes run-
ning round being very handsome.

The approaches to St. George's Hall have been designed
by Mr. Cockerell, and have been the subject of unfavour-
able criticism. A low stone balustrade, of very fine work-
manship, is carried along the line of pavement, with high
red granite polished pillars, introduced for swinging the
gates. The effect of the red granite and the sand-stone—
the massive pillars and the light balustrade —the height of
the former and the lowness of the latter, is somewhat in-
congruous, unless a railway is intended to be placed on the
balustrade. (For this description we are indebted to "The
Stranger's Vade Mecum ; or, Liverpool Described.")

we like sheep," " Hallelujah," and " Worthyis the Lamb,"
were particularly remarkable.

The trebles got astray in " His yoke is easy," and the
quartet, " Since by man," was almost a break down, occa-
sioning a false start in the chorus which immediately fol-
lowed it. We doubt whether the singers were much to
blame in any of these instances.
A most discreditable exhibition took place at the com-
mencement of " Worthy is the Lamb." Instead of the
entire audience standing up in reverential attention during
to performance of this the most sublime of all finales, there
was a general move on the part of several hundreds of
people in the body of the hall, and before the close of the
performance the bad example was followed by fully half of
the audience. We doubt whether any place but Liverpool
could have produced such a spectacle at such a time. If
this be the " fashion" at that place, the sooner a more de-
corous custom is introduced the better.