Boston Guildhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boston Guildhall |
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| Location | Boston, Lincolnshire |
| Built | 1390 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 20 November 1975 |
| Reference no. | 1389007 |
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Boston Guildhall is a very old and important building in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. It used to be a place where important town decisions were made. Today, it's a local museum where you can learn about the area's history. It's also used for special events like weddings. This building is so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very special historic place.
Contents
History of the Guildhall
The story of Boston Guildhall began with a group called St. Mary's Guild. This was a group of merchants, or traders, who formed their guild in 1260. The Guildhall building itself was constructed in 1390. We know this from a special way of dating wood called dendrochronology, which looks at tree rings.
The guild became very rich over time. They received many valuable gifts in the 1300s and 1400s. Records show they owned many items made of gold and silver. However, in 1555, King Edward VI of England took control of many religious guilds and their properties. The Guildhall then became the property of the Boston town government.
The Pilgrim Fathers' Story
In the autumn of 1607, a group of Puritans arrived at the Guildhall. These people, now known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were led by William Brewster. They were brought before the town leaders because they wanted to travel to Holland without the King's permission.
The leaders at the Guildhall allowed them to leave. The Pilgrims lived in Boston for several months before finally reaching Holland the next year. Later, in 1620, they sailed from Plymouth on the famous ship Mayflower to start a new life in the New World (America).
Changes Over Time
As the years passed, the Guildhall was used more and more for town business. In the 1700s, many changes were made to the building. These changes covered up or removed much of its original medieval look. One writer in 1856, Pishey Thompson, said that almost nothing of the original inside was visible except the roof.
The Guildhall stopped being a place for justice in 1842. This was because a new court building was finished. Then, in 1904, a new town hall was built, and the Guildhall no longer had any role in town government.
Modern Use
The Guildhall also had a restaurant. During World War I, it served as a soup kitchen for people in need. In World War II, it became a "British Restaurant," offering affordable meals. However, it had to close in 1949 after some people got sick from food.
In 2008, the building received a lot of money, about £1 million, from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money helped to restore the Guildhall beautifully, bringing back much of its historic charm.
Building Design (Architecture)
The walls of the Guildhall are made of two layers of brick. Between these layers is a mix of rubble and mortar. The way the bricks are laid shows that the building is very old, from the late medieval period.
The bricks are not all the same shape and are laid with thick mortar. This style of building was used before other common brick-laying patterns like English Bond or Flemish Bond became popular in England.
Guildhall Collection
The Guildhall has a collection of interesting items. You can see a painting of Sir Joseph Banks. He was an important person in Boston in 1813. Sir Joseph Banks also sailed with Captain James Cook on the ship Endeavour. This was on the first big trip to explore Australia.
The Guildhall also has a copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs. This is a famous book about religious history. You can also see items found during archaeological digs in the area.
See also
- Guild
- Guildhall Museum
