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Victoria
Hall |
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Victoria Hall is the
centrepiece of History and Architecture in Cobourg.
The Victoria Hall Volunteers started
up with the intention of helping with the restoration of
this building and continue to work towards its upkeep. The
following information was extracted from their pamphlet -
with permission.
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In the 1850s,
Cobourg's leading citizens decided to express their confidence
in the future by building themselves a fine town hall.
They held a design competition which the famous architect,
Kivas Tully, won. [Kivas Tully at left].
From 1856, when
the cornerstone was laid by Sir Allan MacNab, until
1860, when it was opened, the building was under construction
by local builders David and William Burnet.
Edward,
the young Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII,
came to Cobourg during his Canadian tour of 1860. On
September 6 he officially opened Victoria Hall which
was named for his mother Queen Victoria. Much to the
delight of the local citizenry, he remained for the
Grand Ball and midnight supper.
More
on the history of Victoria Hall. Also more on the events
leading to its construction.
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Architecture
Kivas Tully's three-storey building has many worthy
features. As you approach, note the imposing entrance
portico with its four Corinthian columns, Greco-Roman
roofed porch and speaker's balcony. The building of
white brick construction faced on three sides with
buff Cleveland sandstone, is elaborately decorated
with symbols of the British Isles, carvings of lyres,
dolphins, shells, a bearded head and other intricate
examples of the stone-cutter's art. The ceiling of
the portico is decorated with the restored painting
of Cobourg's original coat of arms. |
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| The symmetry of
the building is emphasized by its 96 ample multi-paned
windows and a glance toward the roof reveals the splendid
crown topped cupola with its weather-vane and four crested
clock-faces. |
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Inside, the grand design continues.
Tully designed an E-shaped building to accommodate a variety
of services.
The foyer, the deep-well courtroom (left), the two
grand staircases and the Concert Hall are the most impressive
areas.
However, the building has always housed the municipal
offices for Mayor, Clerk and Treasurer, and the Council
Chamber.
Until 1971, the Masonic Order also had rooms
here; Sir Allan MacNab, Grand Master of the Masonic
Order for Canada and formerly the Prime Minister of
the United Canadas, laid the cornerstone.
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Restoration
Through the years successive town councils paid scant attention
to the maintenance of Tully's building and the inevitable
happened. In 1970-71 Victoria Hall was declared structurally
unsafe and it was vacated. A band of Cobourg citizens, interested
in local history, organized themselves into the Society for
the Restoration of Victoria Hall. Architect Peter John Stokes
was hired to draw up plans to restore the building to its
original grandeur and also to bring its operating facilities
into the 20th century.
After Phases I and II of the restoration were completed,
the project had to be shut down for a whole year because
of financial problems. When Phase III finally resumed, the
architectural firm of Chapman and Walker was hired to complete
the restoration. Years of hard work by dedicated volunteers,
generous donations by thousands of individuals, corporations
and foundations and grants from federal, provincial and municipal
governments finally paid off and the restoration was completed.
On October 7, 1983 Victoria Hall was officially re-opened
by the Governor General of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer.
As in 1860, the festivities were crowned with a Grand Ball.
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Highlights
The Courtroom is one of the few remaining deepwell
courtrooms in Canada still in use. It retains its
original window arrangement, woodwork, floor plan
and trompe-l'oeil wall painting of the Royal Arms.
The James Cockburn Room has all
the original proportions of Kivas Tully's design. It
represents a law office such as James Cockburn rented
in Victoria Hall in the 1860s. Later, James Cockburn
went to Ottawa as a Member of Parliament and was the
first Speaker of the House of Commons at Confederation. (More
on James Cockburn)
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The
court room is also occasionally used for Public concerts
- this one was
First Night Dec 31, 2007 |
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The
Concert Hall with
its elegant wall and ceiling painting, fine windows and doorways,
and splendid proportions is one of the most impressive rooms
in Canada. Its 35 foot ceiling takes in three floors.
The Citizens' Forum and Ryerson/Guillet Room are used for
small meetings and provide a reception area for refreshments.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland offers
regularly changing exhibitions and also has a large permanent
collection.
The Council Chamber is used for regular meetings
of the Cobourg Town Council. The Coat of Arms of the town can be
seen on the wall behind the Mayor's dais.
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| For more about Cobourg,
see our "Cobourg and the
Web page" |
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