{{Short description|Municipal building in Worcester, Worcestershire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name =Worcester Guildhall | native_name = | image =Guildhall, Worcester. - panoramio.jpg | caption = | locmapin =Worcestershire | map_caption = | coordinates ={{coord|52.1912|-2.2208|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location =Worcester, Worcestershire | area = | built =1723 | architect = Thomas White | architecture =Queen Anne style | governing_body = | designation1 =Grade I Listed Building | designation1_offname = | designation1_date =22 May 1954 | designation1_number =1389921 }} The '''Worcester Guildhall''' is a municipal building in the High Street, Worcester, England. It is a Grade I listed building.<ref name=listed>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1389921|desc=Guildhall, Worcester|accessdate=23 August 2019}}</ref>
==History and architecture== The first guildhall on the site was a timber-framed structure constructed as a meeting place for local merchants in about 1227.<ref name=discover>{{cite web|url=https://www.discoverworcestershire.co.uk/listing/worcester-guildhall/|title=Worcester Guildhall|publisher=Discover Worcestershire|access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> In 1717 civic leaders decided to replace the building with a grander structure.<ref name=express>{{cite web|url=https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/worcestershire/az/worcester/guildhall.htm|title=Worcester Guildhall|publisher=Britain Express|access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref>
The current building, designed by Thomas White in the Queen Anne style, was completed in 1723.<ref name=listed/> The design involved a central bay and two wings with the central bay being flanked by two full-height Composite order columns with a pediment above displaying flute-playing cherubs and the Royal Arms.<ref name=listed/> At roof level, above the cornice, carved figures of Justice, Peace, Plenty, Chastisement and Hercules were erected together with four urns.<ref name=listed/> At ground floor level in the middle of the central bay was the main entrance which was flanked by Composite order columns with a fanlight and architrave above.<ref name=listed/> On either side of the entrance, statues of King Charles I and King Charles II were erected in niches; at first floor level, above the main entrance a statue of Queen Anne was erected, also in a niche.<ref name=listed/> Inside, a court room and a lower hall were established on the ground floor, and a council chamber and a large imposing assembly room were established on the first floor.<ref name=discover/> King George III described the assembly room as "a handsome gallery" when he visited it in August 1788.<ref name=itv>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2012-07-11/the-queen-comes-to-worcester-interesting-facts-about-the-visit|title=The Queen comes to Worcester: Interesting facts about the visit|date=11 July 2012|publisher=ITV|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
The building was used for cultural events: the Three Choirs Festival, which involved concerts given by the choirs of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester, was regularly held there until the mid-18th century.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QEArDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA22 |title=Concert Life in Eighteenth Century Britain| first1=Susan |last1=Wollenberg|first2= Simon|last2= McVeigh|page=22|publisher=Routledge|year=2017|isbn= 978-1138245440}}</ref> In the 18th century, Worcester also elected its members of Parliament at the Guildhall, a minimum requirement being that they should own freehold property worth 40 shillings a year; the decision was made by the loudest shouting rather than raising of hands.<ref name=willis>{{cite book|chapter=The city of Worcester: Introduction and borough |editor1-last=Willis-Bund |editor1-first=J W |editor2-last=Page |editor2-first=William |title=A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4 |date= 1924 |publisher=British History Online |location=London |pages=376–390 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp376-390 |access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref> The court room was used as a facility for dispensing justice and accommodated the crown court and nisi prius court.<ref name=listed/> Citizens were given the privilege of being imprisoned underneath the Guildhall rather than in the town jail, except for the most serious offences.<ref name=willis/>
Sir Winston Churchill was presented with the Freedom of the City of Worcester at the Guildhall on 20 May 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worcestercivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WCS_Newsletter_10_SUMMER_PDF.pdf|title=Freedom of the City of Worcester|publisher=Worcester Civic Society|year=2016 |page=3|volume=10|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> The Guildhall was the headquarters of the county borough of Worcester for much of the 20th century and, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972,<ref>{{cite book|title=Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70|publisher=The Stationery Office Ltd|isbn=0-10-547072-4|year=1997}}</ref> became the meeting place of enlarged Worcester City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://committee.worcester.gov.uk/documents/g4434/Agenda%20frontsheet%2018th-Feb-2020%2019.00%20Council.pdf?T=0|title=Council Agenda|date=18 February 2020|publisher=Worcester City Council|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, attended a reception at the Guildhall in July 2012, before undertaking a walkabout outside the building.<ref name=itv/>
Works of art in the Guildhall include portraits by Christopher William Hunneman of King George III<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/george-iii-17381820-53460/search/venue:worcester-guildhall-4576/page/1/view_as/grid|title=George III (1738–1820)|first=Christopher William|last=Hunneman|publisher=Art UK|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> and of his wife, Queen Charlotte<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/queen-charlotte-17441818-53455/search/venue:worcester-guildhall-4576/page/3/view_as/grid|title=Queen Charlotte (1744–1818)|first=Christopher William|last=Hunneman|publisher=Art UK|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> and a portrait by James Sant of Queen Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/queen-victoria-18191901-53456/search/venue:worcester-guildhall-4576/page/3/view_as/grid|title=Queen Victoria (1819–1901)|first=James|last=Sant|publisher=Art UK|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
===Forecourt gates=== The forecourt gates and railings, which are contemporaneous with the guildhall, have their own Grade I listing.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1389922|desc=Gates and railings at Worcester Guildhall|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery>
File:Worcester Guildhall Assembly Room.jpg|The Assembly Room File:Worcester Guildhall Lower Hall.jpg|The Lower Hall File:Worcester Guildhall Council Chambers.jpg|The Council Chambers File:Worcester Guildhall Court Room.jpg|The Court Room File:Worcester Guildhall Mayors Parlour Room.jpg|The Mayors Parlour Room
</gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Grade I listed buildings in Worcestershire Category:City and town halls in Worcestershire Category:Government buildings completed in 1723