Cleethorpes Town Hall

Vigilant in faith and industry

Cleethorpes District Council (1974): "Argent an ancient ship of three masts proper each flying a forked pennon of St George the mainsail charged with an Escallop Azure and the fore and mizzen sails charged with like Escallops Sable on a Chief engrailed a Beehive between two Garbs Or".Crest: "Out of a coronet composed of Ears of Wheat and as many acorns leaved set upon a rim Or a mount Vert thereon a Pelican Argent vulning herself Gules gorged with a strap Vert buckled Or, mantled Azure and Or".Supporters: "Dexter, a Cleethorpes fisherman holding in the exterior hand a net all proper; sinister, a Norseman holding in the exterior hand a shield all proper".Motto: "Vigilant in faith and industry". This combines elements of the mottoes of the Rural District and of the old Borough.Badge: "Standing upon the back of a Dolphin embowed Vert finned Gules an Owl Or".

Alf Bannister (1868-1931)

Born in Cleethorpes, he worked in a brickyard before going to sea at fourteen, becoming a Skipper at 21. He entered the Council in 1906 and was its Chairman several times. He was a founder and first Secretary of the Grimsby Fishing Vessel Owners' Exchange from 1907, and succeeded William Grant as its Chairman in 1920.He took a leading role in the extension of Grimsby Fish Docks, although he did not live to see its completion. His nickname was "King Alf". Another Methodist, he was also President of Elm Road Bowling Club, and Director of Cleethorpes Golf Club. He lies buried in Cleethorpes Cemetery. The artist was George Jennison (1918).

Boy with the Leaking Boot

This is the famous “Boy with the Leaking Boot” statue, thought to be Italian in design. It is the best-selling postcard of Cleethorpes of all time. Many people debate the origins of 'the boy’ because of the tens (or even hundreds by some reports!) of similar statues found around the world. This particular statue was given to the Council as a thank you from the Swedish Vice-consul, and former Cleethorpes resident, John Carlbom, in 1918.

By faith and industry

The College of Arms in London grants new arms. Arms are described in a precise heraldic language, so that they can be drawn by anyone, just by following the instructions.Grimsby Rural District Council (1961): "Vert an ancient ship of three masts Or each flying a forked Pennon of St George the sails set Argent the mainsail charged with a Beehive and the fore and mizzen sails charged with an Escallop Sable on a Chief wavy also Argent two Dolphins embowed also Vert finned Gules"Crest: "Out of a Coronet composed of four Ears of Wheat and as many Acorns leaved set alternately upon a Rim Or a Mount Vert thereon an Aberdeen Angus Bull statant Proper".Motto: "By faith and industry".

William Grant, OBE. (1853-1926)

Born into poverty in Grimsby, he left school at eight and was a Skipper by nineteen. He rose to be head of Grant and Baker, trawler owners, Chairman of the Cleethorpes Urban District Council, President of the Grimsby Fishing Vessel Owners' Exchange, and Chairman of the Grimsby Gas Company.He was a devoted Methodist and an early motorist. Even before the First World War he was touring the Continent and crossing the Alps. He lived at The Mount in Mill Road, and lies buried in Cleethorpes Cemetery. The artist was George Jennison (1911).

Mrs Kelly

The portrait by the door to the Mayor's Parlour is believed to that of Anne Elizabeth, Mrs Henry Kelly, who was the sister of George Moody. In 1903 her family sold the site for the new Town Hall to the Council. She died in 1934, and her ghost is said by some still to haunt The Knoll next door. A photograph of her husband, Henry Kelly, senior, (1843-1909) is displayed next to the portrait.

Vase

Herr Gunther Hank

Burgermeister of Konigswinter 1969 to 1990

Cleethorpes Mayors

The photographs hanging on the walls on each side of the main staircase are of past Mayors of Cleethorpes, taken whilst serving in office. The names of all Mayors, 1936-1996, are on the wooden honours boards within the Council Chamber at the top of the stairs.

Entrance Hall

In the entrance of the Town Hall is the roll of honour of the Royal Air Force squadrons which flew from RAF North Cotes during the Second World War. They include 22 Squadron, 42 Squadron, 53 Squadron, 59 Squadron, 86 Squadron, 143 Squadron, 236 Squadron, 254 Squadron, 407 Squadron, 415 Squadron, 618 Squadron, and 812 Squadron. (A replica of this honours board hangs in St Nicholas Parish Church, North Coates).During the "Cold War" the basement of the Town Hall was equipped as a nuclear shelter and emergency command room. Happily, it was never needed for that purpose, and is now a store. It houses an old well (six feet deep) in one corner, although this has now been covered over.

Clock

The Archotect

Herbert Charles Scaping, architect of the Council Offices, was born in Rathfarnan, Ireland, in 1866. His father was a Master at Trinity House, Hull, in which city young Herbert was articled as an architect. He later settled in Grimsby, and designed many local public buildings. The Cleethorpes Council Offices is thought to be one of his best. His earliest local work was the Art College in Eleanor Street (1894). Others that still stand today include the Education Offices in Eleanor Street (1900), the County Court in Brighowgate (1902) which has similarities to the council Offices, and the Children's Home, also in Brighowgate (1913).He also designed the National Provincial Bank (1901) in Riby Square, the Gas Company Offices in Bethlehem Street, the Grimsby Water Company Offices in Town Hall Square, and the Pestle and Mortar public house (1907), as well as schools including St Martin's (1901) and Strand Street (1910-12), and houses. In his work Classical style predominated over Gothic

Sir George Edward James Moody (1860-1939)

George (knighted in 1926) was the son of a smack-owning pioneer, Walker Moody. He was a trawler owner, founded the firm of Moody and Kelly, and was also a Director of the Great Grimsby Coal Salt and Tanning Company, and of the Great Grimsby Ice Company. He was first elected a councillor in 1882. The portrait was presented by the directors and shareholders of the companies of which he was chairman, to commemorate his appointment as Charter Mayor on 16th September 1936. In 1938 he became the first Honorary Freeman of Cleethorpes. He is buried in cleethorpes Cemetery. The artist was George Jennison (1936).

Vigilantes

Cleethorpes Borough Council (1936): "Argent on a Bend engrailed between two Escallops Azure three Owls Or". In olden days the owl was prominent on the arms of the local family of Appleyard. The owl is also proverbially wise, and is for that reason too very suitable for a borough council's arms.Crest: "On a wreath of colours, Upon a Rock a Pelican Argent vulning herself Gules and gorged with a Strap also Argent Buckel Or". The pelican is a feature in common with the arms of the Earl of Yarborough, the Lord of the Manor of Cleethorpes.Supporters: "On the dexter side a Norseman holding in the exterior hand a shield and on the sinister side a Cleethorpes Fisherman holding in the exterior hand a net all proper". The fisherman is based on a photograph of a former local resident, Levi Stephenson.Motto: "Vigilantes"

The Council Chamber

The Council Chamber is where full council meetings or committee meetings are held. (Nowadays they are more often held in the Council Chamber at Grimsby Town Hall). The dais is where the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk or Chief Executive would sit during meetings.The Town Clerk's chair was given by Alderman Henry Kelly; the Mayor's chair was given by Mr and Mrs Sam Chapman (in memory of Mr Sam Chapman, senior); and the Deputy Mayor's chair was given by The Cleethorpes Gas Company.Behind the dais are hidden the original coal fireplaces which heated the room. The radiators are a later addition. Today the lighting is electric, but originally it was by gas. The Council Chamber was much altered after 1936.The original furniture, which dated back to 1910, is now used in the Konigswinter Room.

The Charters

The council and inhabitants of Cleethorpes petitioned King George V for a charter of incorporation as a borough in January 1934, which was granted by letters patent by King Edward VIII on 8 July 1936. A celebration was held on 23 September 1936, which was "Charter Day".

Herr Peter Wirtz

Burgermeister Of Konigswinter 1999 to date

The Landing

The dome over the main stairs (look up) was originally in glass and was designed by the distinguished local architect, Herbert Scaping. The colourful glass windows at the top of the stairs are not the original ones, which were damaged by a Zeppelin bomb in 1916. (On that occasion, the back and basement doors of the Town Hall were also blown away and the Rate Collector's office was destroyed.A number of soldiers billeted in the Baptist Church, which backs on to the Town Hall, were killed. The damage to the offices was not repaired until 1920. It is believed that the present windows were obtained from the old library in Cleethorpes. On the Landing level are displayed the Grants of Arms of 1936 and 1975.

Herr Herbert Kramer

Burgermeister of Koningswinter 1990 to 1999