The town hall (1898-1906) was built to celebrate the granting by Queen Victoria in 1888 of a new statute to the town of Belfast. The building in Portland stone stands on the site of the old White Linen house (1784) and was designed around a courtyard by Brumwell Thomas in the Renaissance style. The large Dome, copper covered and topped with a stone Lantern tower (53 m) dominates the square.