The belfry served all the purposes of a Hôtel-de-Ville (previous to the 14th century there were no Hôtels-de-Ville properly so-called). It was there that the representatives of the guilds held their meetings, and that the charters of the guilds were kept in great coffers with manifold locks. There, also, the archives of the town were stored. The bottom storey was used as a prison. From the summit, unceasing watch was kept, to warn the citizens of danger, especially that of fire. [Illustration: YPRES. ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE FAÇADE OF THE CLOTH HALL] The roof of the Hall was pitched very high, in order the more easily to get rid of snow and rain water. It was gilded and emblazoned with the arms of the city and those of the County of Flanders. This roof, with its dormer windows, did not cover a stone vaulting, but a panelled ceiling. Inside the upper storey were large wainscotted galleries, which, in the 19th century, were divided by partitions and adorned with mural decorations. [Illustration: PORTAL OF THE BELL-TOWER _The collapse of the façade which framed the tower (photo below) left the latter standing alone. The lower portion still exists, thanks to its massive construction (photo, Antony, Ypres)._] [Illustration: THE PORTAL BEFORE THE WAR] [Illustration: THE PAUWELS ROOM BEFORE THE WAR (_photo, Antony, Ypres_)] =The Pauwels Room= During the last century, the Hall was frequently restored and embellished. In 1876 the walls of the eastern half of the southern building were decorated with twelve mural paintings by Ferdinand Pauwels, representing the principal events in the history of Ypres, in the days of its prosperity (1187 to the siege by the people of Ghent in 1383). The artist displayed exquisite taste, especially in the fresco depicting the "Wedding of Mahaut de Béthune with Mathias de Lorraine." The western half of the gallery was decorated by the artist Delbecke, with paintings depicting the life of a cloth merchant. Owing to the death of the artist, the last picture was never finished. This gallery was used as a banqueting hall. A number of statues by Puyenbroeck of Brussels, along the southern façade, had replaced the originals, badly damaged during the Revolution (1793). The River Yperlée formerly flowed past the western façade and, until 1848, there was a flight of steps with a double balustrade (17th century) to facilitate the transfer of merchandise from the boats to the warehouses. [Illustration: THE PAUWELS ROOM IN DEC., 1914 (_photo, Antony, Ypres_)] [Illustration: THE JUNCTION OF THE CLOTH HALL WITH THE NIEUWERK (_photo, Antony, Ypres_)] =The Nieuwerk= The Nieuwerk did not detract from the imposing appearance of the southern façade, of which it formed the continuation. Renaissance in style, the plans are said to have been the work of J. Sporeman (about 1575). Building was begun early in the 17th century and finished in 1624.