Guildhall

The Guildhall, originally the Guildhall of the Holy and Undivided Trinity and now part of civic accommodation, was constructed between 1422 and 1428, with significant alterations to the porch and interior in 1624. It is built of brick with ashlar and flint dressings, and has plain tiled roofs. Situated on a narrow site, it presents its gable end to the street.

The building is composed of two distinct elements. The eastern section is the main gabled guildhall, featuring a Stone Hall occupying the upper two floors, illuminated by a large, seven-light Perpendicular arched window with panel tracery and moulded jambs. A stone string course separates this window from the ground floor, which originally served as an undercroft for storing the guilds’ goods. The original timber doorways to the undercroft have been replaced with two two-light windows with Y-tracery. A small two-light window is located on each flank. Polygonal corner turrets close the elevation and rise to a gabled roof. The facade is decorated with alternating knapped flint and stone squares, creating a chequered flushwork effect.

The west element comprises the 1624 porch, constructed from matching materials and incorporating the same chequered flushwork. It is three storeys tall with a gabled roof, diminishing polygonal corner shafts, and string courses at each floor. A central round-headed doorway is flanked by engaged Doric columns, with guttae below a flat hood. Smaller subsidiary doors are positioned either side, each beneath a lunette. A six-light transomed casement window is located on the first floor, and the top floor features a re-used coat of arms relating to the reign of Elizabeth, inscribed with Edward Hargae, Mayor, 1624. Smaller lights are positioned on either side, with further lights in the returns. A new achievement relating to Charles II was erected on the parapet in 1664, after the Restoration, and is inscribed William Wharton, Mayor, 1664.

The interior features a timber staircase accessed through the porch doorway, flanked by fluted Ionic timber columns on high bases, and a balustrade with fat turned balusters and a moulded handrail. A dog-leg staircase to the right leads to the entrance of the Stone Hall, which has moulded stone jambs and arch with double plank and muntin doors. The Stone Hall itself is originally four bays (formerly six), with chamfered wall arches. Wainscoting was added in 1895. The roof incorporates crenellated tie beams supported on arched braces with pierced tracery spandrels, and a scissor-braced, boarded ceiling above. The building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.