Backside of Old Cityhall

This is the backside of the old cityhall. I have learned that it just escaped the demolition hammer. At a certain point in time middle aged buildings were seen as unattractive landmarks. The city council hold a secret meeting where they voted it should be removed. However some history loving count or earl was tipped, he just arrived in time to prevent the decission... (this was arround the 1920's).

The Entrance

The entrance of the old city hall contains a few small sculptures. I don't think that they are the origionals because they look too new.

Left Side of the City Hall

This picture is taken at the left side of the city hall. This is a small dead end lane located between the St Peter Church and the city hall. This lane leads to the previous cemetery. Usually this road is closed but this day the gate happened to be open.

Detail of Window

A detail of a Cityhall's window.

On the previous picture you can't see it but the cityhall contains a small tower. When I visited the museum, it appeared that the stair case is located in the tower.

City Hall

The old city hall of Woerden dates from 1501. It’s first task was a place where law was ‘spoken’. Besides the entrance is the ‘schandpaal’ (pillary or cocking-stool), the situation was more dramatic when you were hanged: in that case a gallow was created from the roof.
In 1610 it’s task changed when Woerden received the right to create a group of 24 members to form a type of city council. These people needed to be skilled, peaceful, rich and of Protestant religion. The city hall became to small and was extended with a first floor in Dutch Renaissance style. From that time dates the statue of Lady Justice. Until 1889 the building was used for meetings of the council. When the new city hall was build the old cityhall became again a place for speaking law until 1933 when it was turned into a museum and wedding hall.

The head of St John the Baptist

The city museum of Woerden, located in the old cityhall (there are three, the new, the former and the former former cityhall, I am talking about the last, which is the first cityhall build somewhere in 1500) is a sculpture of the head of St John the Baptist displayed, which holds quite a history. I will tell all about it.