STARING out on St Aldate’s for the past 117 years, Oxford Town Hall has served as a bastion of democracy, giving voice to the righteous (and not so righteous), making mayors, hosting royalty and forging foreign relations.

But like any old building, the Town Hall has fascinating tales to tell. Murderers, the sick and dying and even the Rolling Stones, have passed through its mighty doors, while the Prince of Wales, Edward VII, was heckled by protesters as he tried to get in.

Stand in the dock of the Town Hall’s former court, you can peer directly down the steps to the forbidding cells, where prisoners awaited their fate. Or pause in the Main Hall and you might imagine sad echoes of the soldiers nursed there in the First World War.

Now Oxford City Council wants more people to know about the building’s history and is launching daily tours for the public.

Town Hall caretaker Tim Cox gave the Oxford Mail a sneak peek.

The present Town Hall is the third on the site. The foundation stone was laid in 1893 by the Mayor Thomas Lucas and without mention of the first builder – a Mr A Chappell of Lambeth – who was declared bankrupt in the October of 1893.

The present design by Henry T Hare was built by Messrs Parnell and son of Rugby for £94,116.

Mr Cox said: “The building was state-of-the-art for 1897 with a very modern heating system with ducts supplying warm air and fresh air to the main public rooms. And from 1897 it had electric lighting throughout and the kitchen fittings were worked by gas.”

The official opening of the Town Hall was on Wednesday May 12, 1897, by HRH the Prince of Wales Edward VII and was a very grand affair.

Mr Cox said: “After lunch at the Randolph Hotel the royal party was joined by city and university dignitaries as they proceeded in 13 horse-drawn carriages to the new Town Hall.

“On arrival all ladies in carriages had to alight at the small doorway at the north end of the Town Hall. Only men were allowed to use the Grand Entrance”

However, a large group of students took exception to the civic arrangements for the visit and several street fights broke out between students and citizens, smashing several shop windows.

One student spent a week on remand (before being acquitted) and when taken to the Town Hall cells reportedly said: “I have pleasure in declaring these cells to be well and truly open.”

The coat of arms features an ox crossing over the river or ford – hence Oxford.

While the Elephant represents Sir Francis Knollys, high steward of the city, Lord Lieutenant and MP. The green beaver represents Henry Norreys, captain of the militia and MP, and the motto “fortis est veritas” meaning “truth is strong” was approved by Queen Elizabeth I in 1566.

Mr Cox said: “The crest is surmounted by the upper half of a leopard in yellow. On its head it wears the royal crown. In its paws it holds the Tudor rose. This was a special crest granted by Queen Elizabeth I and no other city has this.”

The Lord Mayor’s Parlour is panelled in wood with a decorative plaster ceiling. The shields in the centre of the ceiling are those of the Queen, the City, Oxford University and the Seventh Earl of Jersey, Lord-Lieutenant for Oxfordshire 1887-1915.

Impressive enough at eye level, it’s not until you look up that you enjoy the full splendour of Oxford’s Council Chamber.

The ceiling features the signs of the zodiac and at the corners are the four seasons. Mr Cox said: “It’s not known why the zodiac is used, other than it was popular in Victorian times.”

Each councillor has his own seat with small desk and since 1990 has used microphones. And there are a number of major portraits around the Chamber.

The Assembly room was originally known as the Banqueting Hall. And while it is now used for Civil Ceremonies, receptions, meetings and parties, at the end of the Second World War it was used as a restaurant.

There are two paintings in the library by T F M Shard, A man digging in a field and The Gossiping Gaffers. Descendants of the Gossiping Gaffers still live in the village of Blewbury. Mr Cox said: “A few years back I had a lady and two old gentlemen come and ask for a tour and they told me the gaffers were their grandfathers.”

The city has an important collection of silver ‘plate’ and some of it is kept in the 15th-century, vaulted crypt underneath the Town Hall on the former site of Knap Hall.

Made during the Mayoralty of John Lambe in 1659/60 and first used at the Coronation of Charles II, the Great Mace is silver gilt, 5ft 4ins long and weighs 287 ounces. It is the largest civic mace in Britain – but it should have been even larger.

Mr Cox said: “On August 17, 1892 the Mayor and council set out to walk around the city boundaries.

But on the homeward journey when they had to cross the river Cherwell, and the punt with the mayoral party had just pushed off when another member of the council jumped aboard, making the craft capsize.

The civic dignitaries managed to scramble to the bank, but the mace sank in the mud.

Two young men dived in and succeeded in bringing the the mace to the surface but without the cross which surmounted the orb.”

Mr Cox came to the Town Hall to work 41 years ago.

He was 16, fresh from Gosford Hill School in Kidlington and he had the grand title of Junior Porter.

Mr Cox, now 57, said: “I was thrilled to get the job, although at the time it mostly involved setting up rooms for engagements and meetings.

“In those days it was a lot more formal and everyone was known and addressed by their surname and right from the start I knew I was helping to look after a very important building.”

In the coming years he would rise through the ranks until 2001 when he was promoted to assistant town hall keeper, which also gave him the title of Mace Bearer.

He said: “Before, I got to walk into the council chamber ahead of the mace bearer, now I was carrying it and that is just one of many honours involved in my role. I have met important people, like Nelson Mandela and I have helped prepare rooms for the civil ceremonies of hundreds of couples, which is very important to me.”

His full title is now Supervising Town Hall Keeper, Lord Mayor’s Sergeant, Sheriff’s Officer and Mace Bearer to the City of Oxford – needless to say he does not wear a badge.

He said: “I know every groan and creak of this building and despite being here alone regularly I’ve never found it creepy. I love the sense of history here and I think people who come and visit will too.”

For details of Town Hall tours, box office events and how to book function rooms contact: 01865 252195.