{{Short description|Municipal building in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Lichfield Guildhall | native_name = | image =The Guildhall, Lichfield - geograph.org.uk - 1515107.jpg | caption = | locmapin =Staffordshire | map_caption = | coordinates ={{coord|52.683080|-1.827182|type:landmark_region:GB-STS|display=inline,title}} | location =Lichfield, Staffordshire | area = | built =1848 | architect =Joseph Potter Jnr | architecture =Gothic-style | governing_body = | designation1 =Grade II Listed Building | designation1_offname = | designation1_date =6 March 1970 | designation1_number = 1187740 }} '''The Guildhall''' is a historic building in Bore Street in Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. The guildhall is a Grade II listed building.<ref name=listed>{{NHLE|desc=Guildhall, Lichfield|num=1187740|accessdate=26 August 2019}}</ref>
==History== The guildhall takes its name from the ancient Guild of St Mary and St John the Baptist, whose hall stood from very early times on this site. It is not known when the first guildhall was erected but it is believed to have been around 1387, when King Richard II confirmed the incorporation of the Guild.<ref name=bho>{{cite web|title='Lichfield: Guilds', in A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 14, Lichfield|first= M W |last=Greenslade |location=London|year=1990|pages=131–134|publisher=British History Online |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol14/pp131-134 |access-date= 26 August 2019}}</ref> Following the suppression of the chantries and religious guilds under King Edward VI in 1547, the property passed to the crown.<ref name=bho/> The old prison for felons and debtors is at the rear of the building and has been in existence since 1553. From here have issued various convicts condemned to be publicly hanged at the gallows. The guildhall was rebuilt in 1707 and extended in 1741.<ref name=listed/>
Most of the present ground floor, and the smaller rooms at first and second floor level at the rear of the building date from the early 18th century. A century later the building was once more in a very poor state of repair and, in 1844 the Conduit Lands Trust agreed to provide £2,500 and constructed the building. The hall and frontage was rebuilt between 1846 and 1848 by Joseph Potter Jnr.<ref name=listed/> It is these works which created the gothic-style frontage to Bore Street and the panelled main hall on the first floor. This room is 87 ft long by 25 ft wide and, with its high pitched roof and hammer beams, has a fine medieval appearance. At the north end there is a large stone tracery stained-glass window by Betton & Evans of Shrewsbury. This was originally in the north transept of the Cathedral and was transferred to the guildhall in 1891.<ref name=listed/> Below the window, on the outside, are busts of King George V and Queen Mary and a plaque commemorating their coronation.<ref name=listed/>
For much of the 20th century the guildhall was the meeting place for Lichfield City Council but it ceased to be the local seat of government after the formation of Lichfield District Council in 1974.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lichfield.gov.uk/cc-background.ihtml |title=Lichfield City Council Background |publisher=Lichfield.gov.uk |accessdate=2011-10-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092205/http://www.lichfield.gov.uk/cc-background.ihtml |archivedate=27 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Nevertheless, the building has continued to be the meeting place of the local parish council, which is now known as Lichfield City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lichfield.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/_Agendas/70131-2020_01_27__LCC_Agenda.pdf|title=Agenda: Lichfield City Council|date=27 January 2020|publisher=Lichfield City Council|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref> Major refurbishment and repair works were completed in 2010 to restore this building, and to provide improved facilities for its use by the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lichfield.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/GBWebsite.pdf|title=Guildhall, Lichfield|publisher=Lichfield Council|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref> The main hall and various smaller rooms are hired out for public meetings, dances and as function rooms, and there is a programme of arts events and concerts run by the Lichfield District Arts Association. Civil marriages can take place at the guildhall. The guildhall is used for civic events including the ancient Court of Arraye and St George's Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2014/04/18/traditional-st-georges-court-returning-to-the-lichfield-guildhall/|title=Traditional St George's Court returning to the Lichfield Guildhall|date=18 April 2014|publisher=Lichfield Live|access-date= 26 August 2019}}</ref> Public rooms include the main hall which accommodates 195 people, the smaller Guildroom which takes about 70 people and the Ashmole Room which has a capacity for 30 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitlichfield.co.uk/conferences/lichfield-guildhall|title=Lichfield Guildhall|publisher=Visit Lichfield|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref>
The Ashmole Room in the guildhall contains some important works of art including a portrait of the antiquary, Elias Ashmole, by an artist referred to as J. Smith,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/elias-ashmole-16171692-19621|title=Elias Ashmole (1617–1692) (after John Riley)|publisher=Art UK|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref> a portrait of a Mrs Esther Day by James Millar<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mrs-esther-day-19611|title=Mrs Esther Day|publisher=Art UK|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref> and a portrait of a member of the Dyott family of Freeford Hall by an unknown artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-member-of-the-dyott-family-19628|title=A Member of the Dyott Family|publisher=Art UK|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref> It also includes a prospect of Lichfield from the south-west by an unknown artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/south-west-prospect-view-of-lichfield-19631|title=South-West Prospect View of Lichfield|publisher=Art UK|accessdate=16 August 2020}}</ref>
==See also== * Guild * Guildhall
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Staffordshire Category:Buildings and structures in Lichfield Category:Government buildings completed in 1848 Category:City and town halls in Staffordshire