The Guildhall

Leicester is very privileged to have one of the best-preserved timber-framed halls in the country, dating back six hundred years. The Guildhall has had many uses and lives. The Great Hall of the Guildhall was built circa 1390 as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi (a small but powerful religious and social group). It was a venue for social gatherings, banquets, festivals and a place for Chantry priests to live. Over the next hundred years the Great Hall was extended and the two wings were added at either end.

By the end of the 15th century the Corporation of Leicester (the town's civic body) had begun to meet in the Guildhall. When the Guild was dissolved in 1548, the Corporation of Leicester bought the Guildhall for the sum of £25 15s 4d. In 1632, the Town Library (the third oldest public library in the country) was moved here from St Martin's Church. Many rare volumes are still on display. At about the same time, the ground floor of the West Wing was refurbished as the Mayor's Parlour. The Corporation met at The Great Hall to conduct civic duties and The Great Hall was often used as a courtroom. A Jury Room was created above the Mayor's Parlour.

The Guildhall was also used regularly for theatrical performances, banquets and civic events - it is believed that Shakespeare performed here during Tudor times. In the 19th century it became increasingly clear that the Guildhall was now far too small as a town hall. After much debate a new Town Hall was built on Horse Fair Street which opened in 1876. For the next fifty years, the Guildhall was used for several purposes including the headquarters of Leicester's first police force and a school. The building became increasingly dilapidated and there were even calls for its demolition as an eyesore! Fortunately, the Council decided to restore the building and following a major renovation, it was opened to the public as a museum in 1926.

Today, the Guildhall is best known as an excellent performance venue, attracting top acts from across the country, and as a space for a wide variety of children's activities. The Guildhall is also licensed to host civil marriage ceremonies. Visitors can step back in time and marvel at the building and come face to face with 'Crankie Gemmie' and Emma Smith, two of Leicester's notorious criminals, who can be found lurking within the Victorian police cells. The Guildhall is also reputedly Leicester's most haunted building, claiming five ghosts including the mysterious White Lady, who makes her presence known in the library. The Hall has also been seen on Living TV's now legendry 'Most Haunted' TV series.