THE Grade II* listed County Hall building in North Yorkshire will be 100 years old on Tuesday.

The building, home to North Yorkshire County Council, was built in 1906 for £33,000.

It was commissioned to replace the 13 county council offices scattered throughout Northallerton.

In 1914, the first extension took place when a north wing was added. This was followed in 1929 by a south wing, with the east wing's construction completing the rectangle in 1940.

To mark the centenary, council chairman Michael Heseltine is organising a lunch, with some guests being direct descendants of those who attended a similar event 100 years ago.

Councillor Heseltine said: "I'm delighted to be chairman at a time when County Hall is celebrating the centenary of its official opening. Over the years, thousands of decisions have been taken at County Hall which have affected many more thousands of people."

The central building is named after its architect, Walter Brierley. The main entrance hall has arched bays supported by columns of Derbyshire limestone. The floor has a chequered design made from black Belgian and white Sicilian marble.

The square council chamber has a domed ceiling, Corinthian columns, pilasters and an English oak floor.

At the top of the staircase, there is a copy of St John of Bologna's statue of Samson killing the Philistine with the jawbone of an ass, given to the county by Sir William Worsley of Hovingham, near Malton, to mark the opening.