The modern building which stands near the northern transept of the
church of Saint-Ouen was the dormitory of the monks. It is now the town
hall. The offices occupy the ground and first floor, the library and
gallery of paintings the second. The great stair-case is remarkable for
its elegance and lightness; it has been compared to that at Somerset
house. On the first landing we find in a niche, the statue of Lewis
XVth in his youth, from the chisel of Lemoine. The great stair-case,
next the church, constructed from the designs of Lebrument, the
architect of the Madeleine, is distinguished by the boldness of its
architecture; it leads to the library and gallery of paintings. The new
facade of the town hall is composed of two wings which are parallel at
their extremities, and a peristyle between the two former, but which
does not so far project. Two columns of the corinthian order support the
pediment, on which the armorial bearings of the town are sculptured;
they are supported on one side by Mercury and the attributes of
Commerce, and on the other by Industry in the likeness of Minerva. On
the first floor of the southern wing, there is a very fine room, which
is used for the meetings of the municipal body; one of the rooms on the
second floor has been devoted to the meetings of the royal academy,
their former room having been joined to the public library.
The ancient town-hall, which was built in the year 1608, was situated
at the corner of the rue Thouret and the rue de la Grosse-Horloge, and
near the tower of the belfry; the only portion of this building which
remains, is that which faces the rue Thouret. This edifice having fallen
into ruin, it was decided that a new town-hall should be erected. In
1757, a plan was adopted, and the monument was to be raised at the
western extremity of the old market place; but after having laid out one
million of francs, on the foundations alone, they became terrified at
the enormous sum, which it would require. The municipal administration
still possesses the model in relief of the said monument: it was of very
curious architecture and may still be seen at the Museum.