If you fancy a look around Douglas’s town hall, you can today and tomorrow.

The council issupporting Manx National Heritage’s open day programme today (Friday) and tomorrow.

Photos from the 1990s of Douglas town centre, illustrating the changes the capital’s main retail area have undergone, have inspired a ’contemporary nostalgia’ theme to the displays, which continue with video footage of some of the highlights of the council’s centenary year celebrations in 1996.

Adding to the atmosphere will be highlights of the centenary meeting of the council held on Saturday, March 2, 1996, played over the council chamber’s sound system.

Also new for this year, the first-floor members’ room, formerly the reference room for the library, will be open, where light refreshments will be served in exchange for a donation to the mayoral charity appeal fund.

With local elections taking place in April 2020, which will see council membership reduce from 18 to 12 and the number of wards in Douglas from six to four, Councillor Ritchie McNicholl will be giving three talks over the open day weekend that focus on the changes being brought about to create a new model of local government for Douglas.

The first is on Friday at noon and two on Saturday, the first at 11.30am the second at 12.45pm.

Members of the public will also be able to discover the stories behind some of the town hall’s interesting collection of artwork, artefacts and ceremonial items, view some of the original hand-drawn plans of the town hall and learn about the history of the building.

The council chamber, mayor’s parlour, committee room and members’ room will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Admission is free.