Chance to look inside council HQ ahead of closure
SuppliedA council headquarters will open its doors to the public ahead of its closure later in the summer.
The last staff and councillors based at Durham County Hall, in Aykley Heads, in Durham City, will be leaving the site in August, with demolition plans for next year.
The building had been home to the local authority for more than 60 years, witnessing "many lively debates and key decisions, "countless friendships" and even "the odd romance or two" blossoming within its walls, the council said.
Council chair Robbie Rodiss said an exhibition on Friday was chance for people to "take a last look inside".
It will include photographs, original architect drawings and designs, and quirky facts.
An audio-visual presentation featuring interviews with people who have worked in County Hall over the years and original film footage of its opening by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, on 14 October 1963, will also be shown.
Durham County Council"County Hall holds a special place in many people's hearts, and its closure does seem like the end of an era," Roddis said.
"When County Hall opened in the 1960s, there was an onsite barber, a bank, a shop, a bar and even a restaurant for councillors with silver service. These are long gone, but the sense of community has remained."
The exhibition will be held in the Durham Room and Council Chamber and will be open from 09:00 BST to 16:00.
Speeches will take place in the Council Chamber at 10:00. No other parts of the building will be open.
It is expected the building will be knocked down in 2027, with The Rivergreen Centre, also located in Aykley Heads, becoming the local authority's new headquarters.
