{{Short description|Municipal building in Derby, Derbyshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name =Derby Guildhall | native_name = | image =Derby Guildhall.JPG | caption =Derby Guildhall, with the War Memorial in the foreground | locmapin =Derbyshire | map_caption =Shown in Derbyshire | coordinates = {{coord|52.9229|N|1.4764|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location =Market Place, Derby | area = | built =1828 | architect = Matthew Habershon and Henry Duesbury | architecture =Classical style | governing_body = | website= | designation1 =Grade II Listed Building | designation1_offname = | designation1_date =24 February 1977 | designation1_number =1228604 }} '''Derby Guildhall''' is a municipal building in the Market Place, Derby, England. It is a Grade II listed building.<ref name=nhle>{{NHLE|desc=Guildhall, Derby|num=1228604|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref>
==History== A moot hall was first established in the Market Place area in 1204.<ref name=tele>{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/looking-back-many-buildings-derbys-2028173|title=Looking back on the many buildings Derby's councils have called home|publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=21 September 2018|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref> This was replaced by a timber and plaster guildhall in 1500 which, in turn, made way for a stone guildhall which was designed by Richard Jackson in the Classical style and completed in 1730.<ref name=tele/> A turret clock designed by John Whitehurst was installed within the pediment above the main entrance in 1737.<ref name="Craven1996">{{cite book |last1=Craven |first1=Maxwell |title=John Whitehurst of Derby: Clockmaker & Scientist, 1713-88 |date=1996 |publisher=Mayfield Books |location=Ashbourne, Derbyshire |page=27}}</ref>
The next structure, which was designed by Matthew Habershon also in the Classical style, was built slightly to the south of the previous structures and was completed in 1828.<ref name=nhle/> It featured a large central portico incorporating a rusticated basement storey (with three large archways providing pedestrian and carriage access to the market hall beyond), above which were four Ionic columns supporting a pediment.<ref name=dip>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyinpictures.com/home/market_place|title=Market Place|publisher=Derby in Pictures|accessdate=3 July 2020|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723124742/http://www.derbyinpictures.com/home/market_place|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Whitehurst's clock, retained from the old guildhall, was installed within the pediment of the new building).<ref name="Craven1996" /> At first-floor level, the principal room behind the colonnade was the 'Grand Room or Court of Sessions', which measured {{convert|58|ft|abbr=on}} by {{convert|35|ft|abbr=on}} and occupied most of the frontage.<ref name="Glover1849">{{cite book |last1=Glover |first1=Stephen |title=The History and Directory of the Borough of Derby |date=1849 |publisher=W. Rowbottom |location=Derby |page=46 |edition=4th |chapter=The Town Hall}}</ref>
On 21 October 1841, Habershon's guildhall was severely damaged by a fire, which left only the centre and outer walls standing.<ref name="tele" /> It was rebuilt to a design by Henry Duesbury in 1842.<ref name=nhle/> The surviving walls were retained, with the exception of the portico, which (at the request of the design committee) was to be replaced with a clock tower. This contained three bells and a new quarter-chiming clock (by James Harrison of Hull)<ref name="Apprentices">{{cite web |title=Apprentice Clockmakers work with the Museum of Making |url=https://www.smithofderby.com/apprentice-clockmakers-work-with-the-museum-of-making/ |website=Smith of Derby |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref> and was topped by a cupola and a weather vane.<ref name=dip/> Two large stones panels, one representing a court room and the other representing a council chamber, designed by the sculptor John Bell, were added to the face of the building either side of the tower.<ref name=dip/> The principal room on the first floor (the 'Hall or Court') was of similar dimensions to its predecessor; there was also on the same level a Grand Jury Room, a public waiting room and (adjoining the Court) the Recorder's room. At ground floor level rooms were provided for the police, the magistrates and the Town Clerk.<ref name="Glover1849" />
During the 19th century, a series of tunnels were built to allow prisoners to be escorted from the police station in Lock Up Yard to the assizes taking place in the guildhall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/derby-tunnels-tour-2854852|title=Pictures of long closed tunnel network under Derby|date=11 August 2019|newspaper=Derby Telegraph|access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>
Queen Victoria visited the Guildhall on 21 May 1891 and received a formal address from the mayor, Alfred Haslam,<ref>{{cite book|title=Permanent Record of Queen Victoria's State Visit to Derby |publisher=W.Hobson|location=Market Place, Derby|year=1891|url=https://archive.org/stream/permanentrecord00unkngoog/permanentrecord00unkngoog_djvu.txt|page=21}}</ref> before departing for the site of the proposed Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, to lay a foundation stone and to knight the mayor.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26165|page=2805|date=26 May 1891}}</ref>
The guildhall was the scene of the initial stages of the trial of the anti-war campaigner, Alice Wheeldon, in 1917.<ref name=review>{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/long-term-future-closed-guildhall-3360141|title=Future of Derby's closed Guildhall Theatre under review|date=26 September 2019|publisher=Derby Telegraph|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref> She was committed for trial at the Old Bailey in London where she was convicted of conspiracy to murder Prime Minister David Lloyd George and his cabinet colleague Arthur Henderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-50490558#:~:text=Alice%20Wheeldon%20was%20convicted%20in,the%20focus%20of%20government%20attention.|title=Family work to clear PM plot suffragette's name|publisher=BBC|date=20 November 2019|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref> A Blue Plaque to commemorate her life was subsequently erected at her home, 12 Pear Tree Road, in Normanton.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jailed Derby suffragette Alice Wheeldon honoured with blue plaque |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-22355021 |accessdate=4 June 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
The guildhall ceased to function as the local of seat of government when the town council moved to the Council House in 1949, and the vacated guildhall was converted for use as a theatre in 1975.<ref name=review/> A main feature of theatre's programme has been the annual Christmas pantomime which has been presented by theatre companies such as the "Babbling Vagabonds" since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/home/christmas/the-babbling-vagabonds-all-set-to-entertain-the-christmas-crowds-in-derby-1-5308947|title=The Babbling Vagabonds all set to entertain the Christmas crowds in Derby|date=11 December 2017|publisher=Derbyshire Life|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref> The viability of such theatre companies was questioned<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/amateur-theatre-companies-brink-shutting-3454586|title=Amateur theatre companies on brink of shutting down after Guildhall closure|date=23 October 2019|publisher=Derby Telegraph|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref> after the theatre closed in January 2019 so that long-term essential building maintenance works could be carried out.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/derby-guildhall-theatre-closed-2419499|title=Sold-out show postponed after shock Derby Guildhall Theatre closure|date=12 January 2019|publisher=Derby Telegraph|accessdate=3 July 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Government buildings completed in 1828 Category:City and town halls in Derbyshire Category:Domes in the United Kingdom Category:Grade II listed buildings in Derby Category:Government buildings with domes