▁Manchester ▁Town ▁Hall ▁is ▁a ▁Victor ian , ▁Ne o - g oth ic ▁municipal ▁building ▁in ▁Manchester , ▁England . ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁cer emon ial ▁headquarters ▁of ▁Manchester ▁City ▁Council ▁and ▁houses ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁local ▁government ▁depart ments . ▁The ▁building ▁faces ▁Albert ▁Square ▁to ▁the ▁north ▁and ▁St ▁Peter ' s ▁Square ▁to ▁the ▁south , ▁with ▁Manchester ▁C en ot aph ▁facing ▁its ▁southern ▁entrance . ▁ ▁Design ed ▁by ▁architect ▁Alfred ▁Water house , ▁the ▁town ▁hall ▁was ▁completed ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 7 . ▁The ▁building ▁contains ▁offices ▁and ▁grand ▁cer emon ial ▁rooms ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Great ▁Hall ▁which ▁is ▁decor ated ▁with ▁Ford ▁M ado x ▁Brown ' s ▁impos ing ▁Manchester ▁Mur als ▁illustr ating ▁the ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁city . ▁The ▁entrance ▁and ▁S cul pt ure ▁Hall ▁contain ▁b ust s ▁and ▁stat ues ▁of ▁influ ential ▁figures ▁including ▁Dal ton , ▁J ou le ▁and ▁Bar bi rol li . ▁The ▁exterior ▁is ▁domin ated ▁by ▁the ▁clock ▁tower ▁which ▁r ises ▁to ▁ ▁and ▁houses ▁Great ▁Ab el , ▁the ▁clock ▁bell . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁a ▁det ached ▁Town ▁Hall ▁Ext ension ▁was ▁completed ▁and ▁is ▁connected ▁by ▁two ▁covered ▁brid ges ▁over ▁Lloyd ▁Street . ▁The ▁town ▁hall ▁was ▁designated ▁as ▁a ▁Gra de ▁I ▁listed ▁building ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁February ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Old ▁Town ▁Hall ▁ ▁Manchester ' s ▁original ▁civ ic