The City Chambers (built 1882-90, architect William Young) of Glasgow, Scotland, are the headquarters of Glasgow City Council, the largest local authority in Scotland, and were completed in 1889. Located on the eastern side of the city's George Square, the buildings inauguration ceremony was performed by Queen Victoriain August 1888, and the first Council meeting was held in October 1889. The buildings are a fine example of Victorian civic architecture.

The entrance hall of the Chambers displays a mosaic of the city's coat of arms on the floor. In 1866 the Lord Lyon King at Arms gave approval for a coat of arms for the City of Glasgow which incorporated a number of symbols and emblems which had been used on official seals up until then - all of which were associated with St Mungo, Glasgow's patron saint. Many people, including Glaswegians themselves, are only vaguely aware of the stories and legends associated with the coat of arms. The arms reflect legends about Saint Mungo, and include four emblems - the bird, tree, bell, and fish - as remembered in the following verse:

Here's the Bird that never flew Here's the Tree that never grew Here's the Bell that never rang Here's the Fish that never swam

The grandest room in the Chambers is the Banqueting Hall. Its magnificence has impressed heads of state, and it has witnessed many different types of events, from formal civil ones to record launches, fashion shows, children's Christmas parties and private functions. Nelson Mandela received his Freedom of the City here in 1993.

The hall is 33.5m long by 14.6m wide and 15.8m high. The carpet comes in three sections which are rotated regularly to prevent wear. The carpet design reflects the ornate pattern of the roof. Huge murals decorate the walls, depicting the granting of the city's charter, its history and culture, and the four main Scottish rivers. The hall's electric chandeliers, or "electroliers," were designed in 1885.

The Councillor's Corridor, containing councillors' mailboxes and decorated in Italian faience, leads to the Committee Rooms, where formal business committees meet, and an impressive library.

From the corridor one passes through into the Council Chamber. This is where the Council meets formally, and is one of the most impressive rooms in the City Chambers. There are seats for each of the 79 councillors, all facing the Lord Provost (the Scottish equivalent of the lord mayor found in London and other cities), his Depute, and the Chief Executive, who are seated behind the mace. A public gallery looks down on the proceedings, and a small press gallery is located at the side.

The Lord Provost's main office is decorated in the same Venetian style as the rest of the building. Famous visitors, including the British Royal family have signed the visitor book here. The municipal mace is kept in an ante-room leading to the Lord Provost's office. Part of the ritual of the Council's proceedings is that the mace is carried by the Council Officer when leading the Lord Provost into the Council Chamber to chair full council meetings. The mace is made from gold-plated silver, and was presented to the council in 1912.

Next to the Council Chamber, you come across three rooms used for civic functions and large meetings: the Satinwood Salon, Octagonal Room, and Mahogany Salon. These rooms are decorated in fine woods as their names imply, and also house a selection of fine paintings.

Pillars of marble and granite give way to staircases of marble, freestone, and alabaster, and a ceiling decorated in gold is topped by a stained glass dome. No expense had been spared and the main staircase is solid Carrara marble for three floors of the building. The original budget had been £150,000 but that rose to £578,232. The original building provided 53,000 square feet of usable space. (Since then, extensions running back from the main building have expanded that to 150,000 square feet). When it opened, it was one of the first buildings in the country to be lit by electricity.

Tours There are daily tours of the Chambers conclude with the Upper Gallery on the third floor, which lets one see the detail on the beautiful dome visible from the other floors, as well as portraits of former Lord Provosts. The 45-60 minute long tours of the City Chambers are free and available most weekdays at 10.30am and 2.30pm. For up-to-date details, see Glasgow City Council Web site.