Guildhall

Guildhall stands in the City of London, a short walk from Gresham and Basinghall streets. The present building dates from the 15th century, though a guildhall has occupied the site since at least the early 12th century. It serves as the ceremonial and administrative heart of the City of London Corporation. Beneath the courtyard lies part of the London Roman Amphitheatre, rediscovered in 1988 and now visible in the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery. The outline of the amphitheatre’s arena is marked on the paving outside. A 13th-century gatehouse once stood over the amphitheatre’s southern entrance, and its remains were found near the church of St Lawrence Jewry. The Great Hall has witnessed key moments in English history. Trials held here included those of Anne Askew, Thomas Cranmer and Lady Jane Grey. The Zong case of 1783, which exposed the horrors of the slave trade, was heard in this hall. In 1848, Frédéric Chopin gave his final public performance here. The hall suffered damage in the Great Fire of 1666 and again during the Blitz in 1940. After each destruction, it was restored, most recently in 1954 with a new roof designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Visitors can explore the medieval Great Hall and the adjacent art gallery, opened in the 1990s. The complex also houses Guildhall Library, a public reference library with collections dating back to the 11th century. Two giant wooden figures, Gog and Magog, stand near the main entrance, a tradition dating to 1708. The courtyard hosts the Worshipful Company of Carmen’s cart-marking ceremony each July. During London Open House weekend, parts of the building open to the public, offering a glimpse of its historic interiors.