The Guildhall

The Guildhall

The Guildhall is a timber-framed hall or courtroom built around 1550, with extensions and additions over more than three centuries. The original structure was extended at the north (rear) end in 1589. A front council chamber and new façade were added in 1683 through public subscription. The cupola was rebuilt as a replica in 1882, and the building underwent internal alterations in 1893 and further restorations and alterations in the 20th century.

The building is clad in brick at the rear and has a painted timber front. It is roofed in plain tiles with a wooden cupola on a lead-covered plinth beneath a ribbed lead dome topped with an iron finial.

The street frontage is two storeys with the first floor projecting over on three caryatid brackets carved with vigorous torsos. The front is three bays wide with a trapezoidal pediment above and deep, bold modillioned eaves cornice. Three large mullioned and transomed leaded casements light the first floor, flanked by Ionic pilasters on panelled pedestals. Outer triangular pediments flank a central segmental pediment, with narrow side windows in the return walls each beneath a squashed triangular pediment. A plain iron balcony railing runs across the first floor with angle finials and three panels of scrolled work. Three double doors with over-lights occupy the ground floor.

From the centre of the pediment projects an ornate clock dated 1683, possibly made by John Ayleward, though the mechanism appears older than the case. It is supported on a gilded beam with five elaborately ornamented and scrolled ties. The square clock case sits under a carved segmental pediment, flanked by thick ornate foliage and fruit garlands. A minute hand was added in 1828. The bell was removed in 1930 to the Guildhall Museum, and a new bell was cast in 1932. A small chimney stack stands immediately behind the cupola on the roof ridge.

The cupola is octagonal in plan on a lead plinth with deep moulded eaves, round-arched openings on each face with turned balustrades across the lower half and moulded base below.

Interior

The Courtroom or Hall is a three-bay open hall with 19th-century panelling up to a height of 14 feet on the walls. The roof features a chamfered Queen-post construction with wind-bracing, narrow chamfers on tie-beams, and chamfered wind-braces. A stained glass window in the north end wall contains three panels including Royal Coats of Arms and the ancient and modern arms of Guildford.

The Mayor's Parlour, located behind the Courtroom, is panelled with a plaster frieze around the eaves decorated with animals—rabbits, hares, and hedgehogs—representing the countryside around the town. A staircase to the upper floor was inserted in 1893 and is closed at the bottom by wrought-iron gates with gilt flowers and scroll decoration. These gates and accompanying standards for lights were made by the Guildford Foundry.

The First Floor Council Chamber is panelled throughout with a wooden dentilled and scroll-bracketed eaves cornice. It contains a clunch fireplace with a fielded panel over-mantle and a dentilled Ionic, fluted baluster-type pilaster surround on the angled wall. This surround is believed to have been moved from Stoughton House. The Jacobean-style caryatids at the ends support a lintel with half-egg patterns and carved panels representing the four humours: sanguineus, cholericus, phlegmaticus, and melancholicus, based on engravings by Raphael Sadeler after allegorical paintings by Marten de Vos. An iron fire surround is decorated with foliage scrolls and Prince of Wales feathers.

Historical Context

The Courtroom was originally connected by an alley running along the old medieval plot boundary to the police cells at the rear of the police station on North Street.

The Guildhall forms the focal point of Guildford High Street, positioned two-thirds of the way up the hill, and is of great landscape value. The Guildhall clock has become the symbol of Guildford and the most famous clock in Surrey.