Guildhall

The Guildhall is an early 15th-century building that has undergone significant restoration. The interior was damaged during World War II, leading to the roof being rebuilt to a new design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The structure is made of squared rubble with ashlar dressings and an inner facing. The eastern half of the undercroft remains original, featuring clustered columns and a ribbed vault, while the western half was rebuilt in brick in the late 17th century. The hall now boasts an open timber roof supported by transverse stone arches, covered with stone slates and featuring a central louvre. Inside, stone panelled walls display a series of memorials dating from 1772 to 1955. The original vaulted south porch, which has two bays, is part of a larger building added by the younger Dance in 1788-1789. This addition consists of three and four storeys and features a south elevation of Portland stone in a semi-gothic style, with painted arches on the windows and square turrets that divide the facade into three bays. The turrets are topped with finials, and a carved coat of arms is located at the centre. The Guildhall has been extended to the east with 19th-century additions, including the library, and there is a large modern extension to the west.