Guildhall, Plymouth

Historically, Plymouth has had five guild halls. The first guilt hall, dated back to the 15th century, was located in the Old Town section of Plymouth. It was replaced by the second hall erected in the Southside Street / Wooster Street area in 1440. In 1607, a third hall, a Jacobean structure, was built on High Street. It was demolished in 1800 and replaced by the fourth guilt hall, designed by John Eveleigh, a surveyor, and architect from Bath. The fifth and current Guildhall foundation stone was laid in July 1870. This one proved to be a keeper.

Guildhall was created by Edward William Godwin, a progressive designer and architect. Godwin's Gothic Revival hall was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, in August 1874. The Guildhall block was 292 feet long and included the Assize Courts.

On the south corner of the building, the great tower commanded the block, rising to 190 feet. Over the center of the Guildhall was a spire with a finial 140 feet above the ground. Internally, the main room, the Great Hall, features a nave of 58 feet wide and 70 feet high. Granite pillars separated it from the aisles. The hall was designed to hold up to 2,600 people.

In 1941, the Guildhall and surrounding buildings were damaged during the Plymouth Blitz, a series of bombing raids of the Second World War. The restoration work started in 1954 and finished in 1959. The hall was rebuilt according to the plans of City Architect Hector J. W. Stirling.

The interior of the building features a wide marble staircase that leads to the Great Hall. The mahogany-paneled upper hall measures 106 feet by 57 feet. The lower entry is underneath. Three chandeliers in the Great Hall represent the old "Three Towns" (Plymouth, Stonehouse, and Devonport). The vast Gobelin Tapestry of Raphael's "Miracle of the Fishes" is a gift from Napoleon III.

The Grade II listed building, today Guildhall acts as a venue for a wide variety of events throughout the year, including graduations, awards, weddings, and concerts.