[1] The courtyard faced Liverpool Town Hall and contained the Nelson Monument.

It was the centre of the cotton trade, cotton traders were based in the surrounding streets, surviving offices used by cotton traders include the Albany Building in Old Hall Street, Berey's Buildings, Bixteth Street and Mason's Building in Exchange Street East, in 1896 cotton trading moved indoors to Brown's Buildings were the former Martin Bank Headquarters is now.

[2] The tympanum in the pediment above the south portico once contained sculptures carved and sculpted by William Nicholl and designed by Cockerell.

The illustration shows a civic ball held in the News Room to honour the visiting Prince Arthur, and Princess and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein.

This print was published in "The Illustrated London News" in 1868 (18 January 1868, page 68).