Kingston City Hall, Town hall in Kingston, Canada
Kingston City Hall is a neoclassical limestone building that takes up a full city block in downtown Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It has a central dome, a clock tower, and several floors housing large public halls and offices for local government.
A fire on 18 April 1840 destroyed Kingston's market area, market building and the municipal offices in the Baker Building, prompting Mayor John Counter to propose a combined market and civic building. Architect George Browne won the 1841 design contest; the cornerstone was laid on 5 June 1843 by Governor General Charles Metcalfe, and the building was finished by November 1844, while Kingston was capital of the Province of Canada. William Coverdale oversaw the final phase after Browne was dismissed.
Twelve stained glass windows line the main hall, each depicting a scene from a First World War battle as a memorial that anyone can see on a walk-through. The hall itself is still used for public gatherings, making it a living part of Kingston's civic routine.
The building sits on the main market square in downtown Kingston and is easy to reach on foot from most central streets. Some interior areas are only open during public events or guided tours, so it is worth checking before you visit.
The market wing was rebuilt after the 1865 fire in a smaller form, without its clock tower; the clock was moved into the main dome. That dome burned in 1908 and was rebuilt with a new clock. The wing's clock tower therefore survives only as a story, not as masonry.
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