OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE RESTORED
COUNCIL CHAMBER AND MAYOR'S PARLOUR

Previous   -   Index   -   Next

The Larios Family Saloon circa 1920. Photo courtesy Mr J. Grech

After the successful restoration of the City Hall's facade in 1996, the Trust earmarked as their next project, the Mayor's office and parlour, formerly the Larios' family saloon.

Thanks to Jack & Dorothy Ellicott's book on the history of the City Hall, we have a detailed description of its elegance:

"The saloon had its walls and ceiling painted grey, embellished with artistically executed paintings in fresco of classical subjects. Gold leaf picked out details of relief on the walls, dado and ceiling, from which medallions of Roman Emperors looked down. Where the ceiling was insufficiently ornate for Victorian taste, the artist simulated raised work with cleverly painted shadows.

The windows were hung with magnificent yellow satin curtains, lined with white silk, in keeping with furniture covered with brocaded satin of the same colour. Mirrors and cabinets of a costly character and a soft pile carpet completed the effect.

Leading from all this splendour the small drawing-room, now the Chairman's office, was given painted cupids on the ceiling, and housed a grand piano. Next came the dining room, in shape just what a dining room should be. A massive richly-carved sideboard formed the principal feature of the room, which also contained a fireplace of carved alabaster. These three rooms looked on the Commercial Square."

The restoration nears completion, February 2000.

Previous   -   Index   -   Next