Chester Town Hall was completed in 1869 having taken five years to build. It is in the Gothic style of the late 13th century and was built by William Henry Lynn to replace the 17th century Exchange, which burnt down in 1862. Inspiration for the design came from the medieval Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium, the most impressive commercial building of medieval northern Europe. The town hall is one of the most important buildings in the heart of Chester and the thriving area around the town hall reflects this.
