CHIANG RAI – On Friday, Mr Norasak Suksomboon (Chiang Rai’s Deputy Governor), Mrs Athitathorn Wanchaithanawong (President of the Provincial Administrative Organization), and Ms Ubonrat Puangphinyou (PAO Expert) visited the site to monitor restoration work on the city’s original city hall.
During their visit, they found a large number of old bricks that formed part of the building’s original structure. Some of these bricks carry the stamps “S.K. 130” and “R.S. 122,” offering clear evidence to pinpoint when the building was first constructed.
Bricks stamped with “R.S. 122” are especially valuable to archaeologists and historians. They provide clear dates and help everyone understand more about the era’s construction methods.
Most bricks bearing the “S.K. 130” stamp show the building standards and material management systems of that period. These bricks are not simply building blocks but silent witnesses that reveal stories about the technology, economy, and society of old Chiang Rai.
All the discovered bricks have been handed over to the Fine Arts Department. Experts will examine and analyze them in detail before putting together a final technical report. This discovery not only makes local people proud but also raises the restoration project’s significance.
The goal is to do more than just repair a building, but to truly bring a piece of Chiang Rai’s heritage back to life. In the future, the restored city hall will become both a meaningful historical site and a place where visitors can learn about the city’s past.
The Old Chiang Rai City Hall (ศาลากลางจังหวัดเชียงรายหลังเก่า)
Chiang Rai’s Old City Hall is the oldest surviving provincial city hall in Thailand. Built in 1897 and officially opened in 1900, it was once the main office for the local government and the governor as part of the Siamese government reforms of the late 1800s.
Key Historical Facts
- Designer: Dr William A. Briggs, a Canadian missionary from the American Presbyterian Missionary Society based in New York, who introduced Christianity to Chiang Rai.
- Architecture: The three-storey building is made from brick and cement, measuring 15 metres wide and 37 metres long. It features balconies with curved beams, teak double doors with two hinges, skylights above each door, and a corridor that links all rooms together.
- Location: Singhaklai Road in the Wiang area of Mueang Chiang Rai.
- Current Use: Since 1977, Thailand’s Department of Fine Arts has listed it as a national monument. The building now serves as a cultural exhibition hall, frequently hosting events, including HRH Bhumibol’s Golden Jubilee Cultural Exhibition. It is also connected to other historic sites, like the nearby Chiang Rai City History Hall, which was once a memorial auditorium from the time of the city’s founding in 1262.
The Old City Hall shows Chiang Rai’s shift from its roots as a Mangrai Dynasty capital to a modern regional centre, mixing colonial-era architecture with Lanna influences. Visitors can find it close to well-known sights like the Clock Tower, making it an easy stop on any city walk.
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