GibraltarThe Piazza (John Macintosh Square)

The City Hall
The building was a private mansion built by Aaron Cardozo for himself in 1819, on the site of the old hospital and chapel of La Santa Misericordia. The cost of building and entertaining proved too much for Cardozo's finances and when he died in 1834 the building was rented out as a hotel. It was bought in 1874 by Pablo Larios who was a wealthy Gibraltarian-born member of a Spanish family, and he refurbished it completely. But just before he moved in, he learnt that Queen Victoria's son, the Duke of Connaught, who was then a young army officer, was being stationed in Gibraltar for six months, so he lent the building to him, and the Duke lived here during his period of service on the Rock, and it became known as Connaught House. Larios sold the building to the government in 1922 and it was intended to be used as a post office, but in 1924 became the offices of the newly formed City Council.

Back to Town area map	(C1) The Piazza (John Macintosh Square) (C2) The House of Assembly (C3) The City Hall
	The Piazza (John Macintosh Square) This area has undergone many changes in the past few hundred years, however, since the 14th century it has been the centre of life in Gibraltar. In the 18th century the garrison used to parade here every morning. In the early years they used to draw their rations during the parade (and so did all Spanish inhabitants until 1715). In the middle of the 19th century the name of the square was changed to Commercial Square as it was the site of public auctions and a daily flea market. In 1940 the name was changed to John Mackintosh Square in honour of the local philanthropist, but the construction of the paved area in the centre has led to it being known popularly as the Piazza. The photograph opposite has been taken from a direction looking toward The House of Assembly. On the upper part of the building overlooking the square is a bust of John Macintosh.

	The House of Assembly This was originally the Exchange and Commercial Library completed in 1817 under Governor Sir George Don, his bust overlooks Main Street from the upper part of the building on that side. After the Garrison Library had been established for Officers, it became clear to the business class of Gibraltar that a meeting place should be established, since as civilians, they were excluded from the use of the Garrison Library. Their influential committee was to provide an unofficial but strong representation for the civilian population. It was funded by a public subscription raised in 1817 and became Gibraltar's Commercial Library. Inside the lobby of the building you can see a marble slab on which are recorded the names of the original subscribers. The building was damaged by fire in 1919 and the roof was rebuilt in a different style. It was to be six years before in was re-opened by Governor, Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien in 1922. In 1950 the building became the Legislative Council and in 1969 it became the House of Assembly.

	The City Hall The building was a private mansion built by Aaron Cardozo for himself in 1819, on the site of the old hospital and chapel of La Santa Misericordia. The cost of building and entertaining proved too much for Cardozo's finances and when he died in 1834 the building was rented out as a hotel. It was bought in 1874 by Pablo Larios who was a wealthy Gibraltarian-born member of a Spanish family, and he refurbished it completely. But just before he moved in, he learnt that Queen Victoria's son, the Duke of Connaught, who was then a young army officer, was being stationed in Gibraltar for six months, so he lent the building to him, and the Duke lived here during his period of service on the Rock, and it became known as Connaught House. Larios sold the building to the government in 1922 and it was intended to be used as a post office, but in 1924 became the offices of the newly formed City Council.