Victory 80: The Town Hall

This blog was first published by Archives and Heritage Officer Philip Jeffs as part of a series of posters that were displayed around Warrington Town Centre during the first UK coronavirus lockdown to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe or “VE” day in May 2020. It is being republished here again, in slightly edited form, to commemorate the 80th anniversary.

Throughout the Second World War the focus of wartime publicity in Warrington was the Town Hall. In 1939 the outbreak of war had been announced from the front steps, and since then the hall and its surrounding lawns had hosted a multitude of wartime fundraising campaigns and propaganda schemes. At one point a downed German fighter plane had even been put on display next to the Golden Gates. It was only fitting that in 1945 as the end of the war in Europe approached, people looked again to the Town Hall.

A downed German Messerschmitt fighter plane is displayed at Bank Park

Warrington Town Council had actually begun planning for the expected end of hostilities in Europe by the beginning of May. On the evening of Monday 7 May 1945 they were informed by the government that Victory in Europe or “VE Day” would be announced the following afternoon.

As word got about town unofficial celebrations began to break out the same evening, but the official announcement was not made until 3 pm on 8 May 1945.

The following day was a rainy day in Warrington, but nevertheless at 3 o’clock the Mayor and his retinue gathered on the front steps of the Town Hall. Winston Churchill’s speech was played to the crowd over speakers after which the Mayor, Mr William Boulting, read the official proclamation declaring that the War in Europe was over.

At 3 pm on 8 May 1945 the Mayor of Warrington and his retinue gather on the steps of the Town Hall to read the official proclamation declaring that the War in Europe is over. Note the umbrellas!

With the formalities out of the way, it was time for the people of Warrington to have some fun!

Bank Park and the Town Hall gardens were lit up with electric light for the first time since the outbreak of the War. Fairy lights were strung through the trees in Bank Park, the Town Hall was lit up by floodlights, and an illuminated bandstand was specially constructed to house a fashionable dance band.

Dancers packed so tightly on the Town Hall lawns that it was difficult to move. Fireworks were going off continuously among the crowd all evening, and the music, bright lights, and loud bangs went on into the early hours of the morning. The near constant rain meant that dancers were sinking into the lawns and churning them to mud, making the dancing harder as the night drew on.

The celebrations were not limited to Bank Park, and whilst in Warrington it continued to rain heavily for most of VE Day, the celebrations carried on regardless across the town.

The Warrington Examiner reports that:

“There seemed to be as many women in the streets as there were men, and members of the forces on leave, as well as American personnel joined in the fun, they did a jig in the streets, they joined hands and swept along with flags in their hands and streamers fluttering from their hats, and they threw fireworks at each other’s feet and roared with laughter.”

The reporter adds that there was “much fraternising”.

Despite being described as “under the weather” with drink, the Examiner reported the crowds were largely well behaved, with special constables being needed more to clear a path through the crowds for passing vehicles than to maintain order. The highlight of the night for police was rescuing a cat trapped in the mud-banks of the River Mersey at Bridge Foot whilst hundreds of partygoers were watching.

Americans and Brits celebrate VE Day in one of Warrington’s many pubs

During “VE Day” and “VE Day Plus One” – as many people referred to 9 May 1945 – masses of celebrations took place all across the town. We’ll learn about some of the ways Warringtonians celebrated VE Day, including the iconic street parties, in our next blog.

VE Day commemorates an iconic, defining point in British history, when after a monumental struggle, people celebrated victory over Adolf Hitler and fascism. Tuesday 8 May 1945 was a day of street parties across Britain, and Warrington shared in the national celebrations of relief and jubilation. However, the preceding six years of war had profoundly impacted the town. In our Victory 80 display we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day and how the town celebrated the end of the Second World War. Victory 80 runs from 8 May 2025 until 22 Jun 2025.