Since 1858, the Leeds City Council had met in the Town Hall, but over time, with the growth in local government responsibilities, more and more departments were moved into separate offices.

This was inefficient and unsatisfactory, and with the forthcoming enlargement of the number of council seats from sixty-eight to a hundred, the whole question of accommodation had to be considered.

A site between Portland Crescent and the General Infirmary on Calverley Street was agreed, the new hall to take the place of a block known as St James Square.

[11] The expanded city council was elected in November 1930, and met for its first three occasions at the Great Hall of the University of Leeds.

[5] The gardens laid out in front of the Civic Hall once included the Coronation Fountain, erected in 1953 and demolished the following year.

A plaque marking the golden jubilee (50th anniversary) of the building was unveiled on 23 August 1983 by Lord Mayor Martin Dodgson.

[9][15] In the centre of the pediment is carved the arms of the city, and in gilded Roman numerals, the dates of the granting of the charter and the completion of the building (1626 and 1933 respectively).

[3] There are two 170 feet (52 m) tall[9][10] towers in the style of Christopher Wren[3][2][15] and similar to the spire of the church of St Vedast by Nicholas Hawksmoor.

A partially enclosed courtyard at the north side is the site of a single fir tree and the Councillors' private entrance.

[19] There are also carved and gilded clocks by Potts & Sons projecting on a bracket from each side of the hall;[3] these have tortoises around the dial.

The workers assured the decision makers that any civic, south facing clocks should include a turtle reference, however small.

They asserted that it was a tradition which linked back to ancient Greece where turtles were often used to symbolise and, for a short period, measure time.

[15] One of the most original features of the building hangs above the Council Chamber: a huge elliptical candelabrum hung by 8 rods and containing 99 electric bulbs.