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Warrington Town Hall and Gates

1,547 views · Published 2 January 2009 · 1:47 · Indexed 8 November 2026

Channel: John Yannopapas · 2009 · Travel & Events

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A view of Warrington's (a 200,000 people Cheshire Town) Town hall and the Townhall's Golden Gates ,dating back to 1895 , donated by a F.W.Monks.
The gates, which are actually made of cast-iron, were commissioned by one of the livery companies of London as a present for Queen Victoria to be installed at Sandringham, a property of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). 

In 1862, the Queen went to Rotten Row on the south side of Hyde Park in London to inspect the object offered, as was custom in those days. But she was in for a shock. 

Behind the gates stood the statue of Oliver Cromwell, which now resides at Bridge Foot in the Warrington Guardian office premises. 

It is understood she was so displeased at the sight of the Parliamentarian that she refused the gift. 

After being displayed at an international exhibition in London in 1862, the gates were returned to their makers, the Coalbrookdale Company in Ironbridge. 

There they stayed until 1893 when Frederick Monks, a member of the council, saw them on one of his many visits to Ironbridge as the director of Monks Hall Foundry. He decided to offer them as a gift to the council and they were formally opened on Warrington Walking Day, June 28, 1895. This was not a moment too soon for the council as previous to this, the town hall was surrounded by a high wall and onlookers could not see the building from Sankey Street, hardly giving it the air of authority and prominence it deserved.

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