Town Hall Square, Leicester

Town Hall Square is a central civic space in Leicester, home to the grand Leicester Town Hall and its striking ornamental fountain. A welcoming public space, the square is an architectural and historical highlight of the city, reflecting Leicester’s evolution from a medieval market town to a modern urban center.

The Leicester Town Hall, a Grade II* listed building, was constructed on the site of the city’s old cattle market after the Guildhall—Leicester’s previous council meeting place—was deemed too small. Designed by architect Francis Hames in the Queen Anne style, the foundation stone was laid on 3 August 1874, and the building officially opened on 7 August 1876. The structure, made from Ketton stone, features an imposing 44-meter-high clock tower and has undergone extensions in 1910 and 1924. A notable event in its history occurred during the Blitz in 1940 when a German bomb crashed through the roof and into the basement, remarkably failing to detonate.

One of the most distinctive features of the square is its grand fountain, a gift from Sir Israel Hart, a former Mayor of Leicester. Unveiled in 1879, the fountain, designed by Hames, incorporates bronze-painted cast iron, Shap granite, and Ross of Mull granite. Though it was once believed to be inspired by a similar fountain in Porto, Portugal, evidence suggests the Leicester fountain predates the Porto version, with strong indications that the latter was a copy.

Town Hall Square is also home to the Second Boer War Memorial, sculpted by Joseph Crosland McClure and unveiled in 1909 by Field Marshal Lord Grenfell. This monument stands as a tribute to Leicester’s military history.

Beyond its historical significance, the square remains a focal point of civic life, housing Leicester City Council and offering a pleasant urban space for residents and visitors alike.