Winchester Guildhall, Winchester (must see)
Winchester Guildhall, a Grade II listed building, stands as a historic and architecturally significant structure in Winchester. Prior to the establishment of the current Guildhall in 1873, its predecessor had occupied a site further up the High Street since the time of King Edward IV.
The site for the new Guildhall held historical significance, having been previously occupied by St Mary's Abbey. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s, Queen Mary granted the site to the City of Salisbury as a gesture of gratitude for the city's support in her marriage to King Philip of Spain in 1554.
The foundation stone for the new building was laid on December 22, 1871, by Viscount Eversley, the former Speaker of the House of Commons. The Guildhall was officially opened on May 18, 1873, by the Lord Chancellor, Earl of Selborne.
Designed by Jeffery and Skiller in the Gothic Revival style the Guildhall features a distinctive architectural composition. The central section incorporates a flight of steps leading to an arcaded entrance on the first floor, three mullion windows on the second floor, and a prominent clock tower topped by angle pavilions. The clock, crafted by Gillett & Bland, includes quarter-chiming features. Statues of local historical figures adorn the front of the building at the second-floor level, adding a cultural touch to the architectural ensemble.
The interior of the Guildhall holds artistic treasures, including the King Charles Room, where a restored portrait of King Charles I revealed its original depiction of Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans, by Peter Lely, over-painted with an image of the king. Other notable paintings in the King Charles Room feature portraits of King Charles II by Peter Lely and Queen Elizabeth II by Edward Halliday. Additionally, the stairwell houses a painting by Thomas Stewardson depicting the children of Charles Paulet, 13th Marquess of Winchester.
The site for the new Guildhall held historical significance, having been previously occupied by St Mary's Abbey. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s, Queen Mary granted the site to the City of Salisbury as a gesture of gratitude for the city's support in her marriage to King Philip of Spain in 1554.
The foundation stone for the new building was laid on December 22, 1871, by Viscount Eversley, the former Speaker of the House of Commons. The Guildhall was officially opened on May 18, 1873, by the Lord Chancellor, Earl of Selborne.
Designed by Jeffery and Skiller in the Gothic Revival style the Guildhall features a distinctive architectural composition. The central section incorporates a flight of steps leading to an arcaded entrance on the first floor, three mullion windows on the second floor, and a prominent clock tower topped by angle pavilions. The clock, crafted by Gillett & Bland, includes quarter-chiming features. Statues of local historical figures adorn the front of the building at the second-floor level, adding a cultural touch to the architectural ensemble.
The interior of the Guildhall holds artistic treasures, including the King Charles Room, where a restored portrait of King Charles I revealed its original depiction of Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans, by Peter Lely, over-painted with an image of the king. Other notable paintings in the King Charles Room feature portraits of King Charles II by Peter Lely and Queen Elizabeth II by Edward Halliday. Additionally, the stairwell houses a painting by Thomas Stewardson depicting the children of Charles Paulet, 13th Marquess of Winchester.
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Winchester Guildhall on Map
Sight Name: Winchester Guildhall
Sight Location: Winchester, England (See walking tours in Winchester)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Winchester, England (See walking tours in Winchester)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Winchester, England
Create Your Own Walk in Winchester
Creating your own self-guided walk in Winchester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Winchester's Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Are you an explorer at heart and with a keen interest in history? If you answer yes to both of these and happen to be in Winchester, Hampshire, then you've hit the right spot! There are several historical locations in town, including time-honored buildings, monuments, and palaces, through which you can learn much about its glorious past.
The abundance of such sites makes a walk around... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
The abundance of such sites makes a walk around... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Winchester Introduction Walking Tour
Winchester, the county town of Hampshire, England, is a charming place with a great deal of history.
The name, Winchester, is traced back to its Old English origins, derived from "Wintan-ceaster" which means "Fort Venta". The city itself emerged in Roman times when it was known as Venta Belgarum, in which Venta was a common Celtic word for a "tribal town" or... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The name, Winchester, is traced back to its Old English origins, derived from "Wintan-ceaster" which means "Fort Venta". The city itself emerged in Roman times when it was known as Venta Belgarum, in which Venta was a common Celtic word for a "tribal town" or... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Winchester Cathedral Close Walk
Winchester Cathedral, originally built in 1079, is the longest Gothic cathedral in Europe. It contains much fine architecture spanning the 11th to the 16th centuries and is the place of interment of numerous Bishops of Winchester (such as William of Wykeham), Anglo-Saxon monarchs (such as Egbert of Wessex), and later monarchs such as King Canute and William Rufus. It was once an important... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles