Exeter Guildhall
Encyclopedia
Exeter Guildhall in High Street, Exeter
, Devon
, England
has been the centre of civic government for the city for at least 600 years. Much of the fabric of the building is medieval, though the elaborate frontage was added in the 1590s and the interior was extensively restored in the 19th century. It is now a Grade I listed building and is still used for a range of civic functions.
in Exeter by 1000 AD whose hall was most likely here too. On this basis it has been claimed to be the oldest municipal building
in England still in use.
The building was refaced in 1593-6 at a cost of £789 in an ornate Italian style that was described by Nikolaus Pevsner
as being "as picturesque as it is barbarous". The portico that juts out over the pavement is dated 1594 and its four sturdy granite
columns are surmounted by highly-decorated corbels of Beer stone. The upper floor, also in Beer stone, is more restrained with strapwork
and 16 smaller paired pillars framing large windows that have both mullion
s and transom
s. During renovation work it has been noted that the stonework had once been painted in cream with details in red and blue and the pillars gilded
.
The city stocks
were once under the portico. The elaborately carved oak door, dated 1593, was made by Nicholas Baggett,a local carpenter. It leads via an anteroom to the council chamber which apparently dates to 1468-70, though it was much restored in Victorian times. The arch-braced roof with seven bays is original; its main truss
es rest on carved corbels representing grotesque animals.
A large chandelier hangs from the centre of the roof. It was made by Thomas Pyke of Bridgwater and installed in 1789. Apart from this and the roof, all the internal fittings are Victorian, including the stained glass, the gallery, the furniture and the stone floor (all 1863) and the heavily restored Tudor panelling (1887). Above the fireplace is a bust of Queen Victoria by Henry Hugh Armstead
.
Under the council chamber there is an early 14th century cellar. This was once a prison that was known as the "pytt of the Guyldhall". In the 16th century another prison, for women, was built on the ground floor at the back of the building. It remained in use until 1887. In 1858 a room was built above this to store the city's records; it was later used as a jury room.
In 1911 the chamber was the location for an election petition
following the second general election of 1910 between the Liberal candidate Harold St. Maur and the Conservative Henry Duke
.
Exeter Guildhall has been a Grade I listed building since 1953 and is also a scheduled ancient monument
. According to Exeter City Council it is still used for civil purposes such as official receptions, mayoral banquets, some City Council meetings, other meetings and exhibitions and occasionally as a magistrates' court.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
has been the centre of civic government for the city for at least 600 years. Much of the fabric of the building is medieval, though the elaborate frontage was added in the 1590s and the interior was extensively restored in the 19th century. It is now a Grade I listed building and is still used for a range of civic functions.
History
It is certain that the hall has been on its present site since the 14th century, and most probably since the second half of the 12th century. It is also known that there was a guildGuild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
in Exeter by 1000 AD whose hall was most likely here too. On this basis it has been claimed to be the oldest municipal building
Seat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
in England still in use.
The building was refaced in 1593-6 at a cost of £789 in an ornate Italian style that was described by Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
as being "as picturesque as it is barbarous". The portico that juts out over the pavement is dated 1594 and its four sturdy granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
columns are surmounted by highly-decorated corbels of Beer stone. The upper floor, also in Beer stone, is more restrained with strapwork
Strapwork
In the history of art and design, the term strapwork refers to a stylised representation in ornament of strips or bands of curling leather, parchment or metal cut into elaborate shapes, with piercings and often interwoven...
and 16 smaller paired pillars framing large windows that have both mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
s and transom
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
s. During renovation work it has been noted that the stonework had once been painted in cream with details in red and blue and the pillars gilded
Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
.
The city stocks
Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
were once under the portico. The elaborately carved oak door, dated 1593, was made by Nicholas Baggett,a local carpenter. It leads via an anteroom to the council chamber which apparently dates to 1468-70, though it was much restored in Victorian times. The arch-braced roof with seven bays is original; its main truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
es rest on carved corbels representing grotesque animals.
A large chandelier hangs from the centre of the roof. It was made by Thomas Pyke of Bridgwater and installed in 1789. Apart from this and the roof, all the internal fittings are Victorian, including the stained glass, the gallery, the furniture and the stone floor (all 1863) and the heavily restored Tudor panelling (1887). Above the fireplace is a bust of Queen Victoria by Henry Hugh Armstead
Henry Hugh Armstead
Henry Hugh Armstead was an English sculptor and illustrator, influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites.-Life:...
.
Under the council chamber there is an early 14th century cellar. This was once a prison that was known as the "pytt of the Guyldhall". In the 16th century another prison, for women, was built on the ground floor at the back of the building. It remained in use until 1887. In 1858 a room was built above this to store the city's records; it was later used as a jury room.
20th century
The front room above the portico was once a council chamber but since 1903 has been used as the mayor's parlour. It had a plaster ceiling dating to about 1800 that was removed and replaced with a replica in 1986.In 1911 the chamber was the location for an election petition
Election petition
An election petition refers to the procedure for challenging the result of a Parliamentary election or local government election in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong.- Outcomes :...
following the second general election of 1910 between the Liberal candidate Harold St. Maur and the Conservative Henry Duke
Henry Duke, 1st Baron Merrivale
Henry Edward Duke, 1st Baron Merrivale PC, QC , was a British judge and Conservative politician. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1916 and 1918.-Background and education:...
.
Exeter Guildhall has been a Grade I listed building since 1953 and is also a scheduled ancient monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
. According to Exeter City Council it is still used for civil purposes such as official receptions, mayoral banquets, some City Council meetings, other meetings and exhibitions and occasionally as a magistrates' court.