Carlisle Guildhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlisle Guildhall |
|
|---|---|
Viewed from Greenmarket
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | Grade I listed |
| Location | Carlisle, Cumbria grid reference NY 400 560 |
| Coordinates | 54°53′41.6″N 2°56′11.2″W / 54.894889°N 2.936444°W |
| Completed | 1407 |
The Carlisle Guildhall is a really old and important building in Carlisle, Cumbria, a county in England. You can find it right in the middle of the city, where Fisher Street and Greenmarket meet.
It's so special that it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England. It got this special status on June 1, 1949. Today, the top floors of the Guildhall are home to a cool museum.
Contents
What is the Carlisle Guildhall?
The Carlisle Guildhall was built a very long time ago, between 1396 and 1407. A man named Richard de Redness probably oversaw its construction. People think it was built after a big fire in 1391. That fire destroyed many buildings in Carlisle, so a new Guildhall was needed.
The building has an L-shape and is made with a special style called timber-framed. This means its walls are built using strong wooden beams. The roof inside is open, showing off its structure.
How Old is the Roof?
Scientists used a method called dendrochronology to study the roof's wood. This method looks at tree rings to find out how old the wood is. They found that all the roof timbers are from when the building was first made.
The roof over the Fisher Street part is different from the Greenmarket part. The Fisher Street roof is held up by four special wooden posts called crown posts.
What Was the Ground Floor Used For?
The ground floor of the Guildhall might have been an open space at first. Throughout history, it was used for trading. People would buy and sell things there.
The Guildhall Museum
The museum is located on the upper floors of the Guildhall. It first opened its doors in 1978. The museum shows the history of the different guilds of Carlisle.
Guilds were like clubs or associations for people who did the same job, such as shoemakers or merchants. They helped their members and kept their skills strong.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Carlisle, Cumbria
