The Guildhall

The Guildhall is a remarkable early 16th century timber-framed building with plaster infill, dating from around 1529. It served as the hall for the Guild of Corpus Christi, one of the four medieval guilds in Lavenham. This structure is considered one of the finest examples of half-timbering in the region. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it functioned as a Bridewell and workhouse, and it underwent restoration by Sir Cuthbert Quilter around 1911. The building is currently owned by the National Trust.

The timber-framing is notably heavy and closely spaced, and the roofs are tiled. At the south-west end, there is a cross wing featuring a jettied gable supported by a moulded and carved bressumer, along with a return front facing Lady Street. The building has two storeys, and a prominent two-storey gabled porch projects from the north-west front, adorned with heavy carved corner posts and a doorcase. The upper storey jetties on both fronts, supported by a richly carved bressumer that spans the entire building. A heavy corner post at the north-west corner is intricately carved with a figure holding a lance.

The windows have been restored to their original design, primarily consisting of five or six light shallow oriel windows with moulded sills. The upper windows are mullioned, while the ground storey windows are both mullioned and transomed, all featuring lattice leaded lights. Inside, the building showcases heavy moulded and carved timber with much fine detail, including a large chimney stack on the cross wing with sawtooth shafting.