LAST month, Durham County Council announced that it was going to press on with its plans to demolish County Hall, which it has described as an “oversized inefficient building” and replace it with a business park while it moves into the nearby Rivergreen Building.

Therefore, it was good timing when we recently stumbled over a forgotten packet labelled “Durham County Council” pictures in our archive because they take us back to when Aykley Heads was shiny and new.

It cost £2.75m to build in the early 1960s and was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on October 13, 1963.

The Northern Echo: County Hall is nearing completion on this snowy day in May 1963 - it was opened five months later, on October 14, 1963, by the Duke of Edinburgh. This picture shows the two lines of five pipes on the top of the building - what were they for and what doesCounty Hall is nearing completion on this snowy day in May 1963 - it was opened five months later, on October 14, 1963, by the Duke of Edinburgh. What is that distinctive car (below) in the snow?

The Northern Echo: An interesting car parked in the snow of May 8, 1963, outside County Hall. Can anyone tell us what it is?

In the packet is a “wide eye” photograph dated February 26, 1964 (below), and the caption attached to it says that it shows “Durham County Council in session in the new County Hall”. This must be one of the earliest, if not the first, to be held in the new palace.

The Northern Echo: A fabulous wide angle lens picture from our archives dated February 27, 1964, showing "Durham County Council in session in the new County Hall". There are 78 male councillors on the benches plus four more men on top table, and there are 16

Amid these classic 1960s settings sits a very 1960s council: there are 78 male councillors on the benches with four more men on the top table, and only 16 women, who are all wearing big hats and overcoats, as if they don’t intend to stay for long. Of the 92 faces on view – every one white – we reckon only a handful on the back row on the right can be aged 50 or under. Everyone else is closer to 70 and many sport Bobby Charlton comb-overs.

The Northern Echo: A council meeting inside "the new county hall" - it must be one of the first meetings in 1964A council meeting inside "the new county hall" - it must be one of the first meetings in 1964

The Northern Echo: County Hall at Aykley Heads being built in March 1961 with Mr Eddison's road roller playing a central role

The Northern Echo: A wide-eyed camera view of the new Durham County Hall at Aykley Heads at the end of September 1965, before the council staff moved in. It is quite a symphony of shapes and now, less than 60 years later, it is at the centre of controversy over its futureA wide-eyed camera view of the new Durham County Hall at Aykley Heads at the end of September 1965, before the council staff moved in. It is quite a symphony of shapes . But what are those two rows of pipes at the top, and the raised brickwork just beneath, all about?

County Hall was designed by Sir Basil Spence, a noted brutalist architect perhaps best known for Coventry Cathedral – but we’ve always been intrigued by the two rows of five pipes at the top of the building and that strange raised bit of brickwork beneath them.

So we’ve asked around.

Kevin Meredith, who worked in County Hall from 1963 to 2001, said: “Soon after the building was opened, a sculptor or stonemason spent many months carving the dozen or so very impressive images on the rear exterior courtyard wall of the council chamber and we assumed that he was also commissioned to carve or sculpt a figure on the raised brickwork on the front of the building but nothing came of it,” says Kevin. “We assumed that cost was an issue.”

And Rob Lunan gave us a theory about the pipes.

“I worked in the wing extending towards Dryburn Hospital which has tubes projecting from it which were used for displaying flags that were inserted from inside the building, and I suggest the same usage for the ones on the front in your photo,” he said. “As for the raised brickwork, perhaps just ornamentation?”

If you can tell us any more, we’d love to hear about the pipes and the brickwork. Please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk

SEE MORE OF DURHAM IN OUR ARCHIVES HERE

The Northern Echo: County Hall was a frighteningly modern building when it was new: this is the members' lounge in early 1965

County Hall was a frighteningly modern building when it was new: this is the members' lounge in early 1965