Guildford House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guildford House |
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Guildford House museum and art gallery
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| Type | Town house |
| Location | 155 High Street, Guildford, Surrey |
| OS grid reference | SU 99825 49515 |
| Built | 1660 |
| Owner | Guildford Borough Council |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Guildford House | |
| Designated | 1 May 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1180153 |
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Guildford House is a very old building located at 155 High Street in Guildford, Surrey, England. It was built way back in 1660. Today, it's a special place that works as a museum and an art gallery for the town.
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Exploring Guildford House History
Guildford House was first built for a man named John Childs. He was a lawyer and even became the Mayor of Guildford three times! In 1726, another lawyer, John Martyr, bought the house. His family owned it until 1850.
After that, a person named Frank Apted bought it. He used it as a shop for his brush and carpentry business. From 1914 to 1928, it was a shop that sold stationery and books. For one year, it was part of a nearby clothing store. Then, in 1929, it became a restaurant. This restaurant stayed open until 1956.
What Makes Guildford House Special?
Guildford House is considered a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building. It has many of its original parts still intact. For example, it has a beautifully carved staircase. Some rooms have old wooden panels on the walls. You can also see original decorative plaster ceilings. Even the metal fittings on the windows are from a long time ago.
The main structure of the house is made of timber (wood). The front of the house is covered in painted wood. The back of the house has special tiles called mathematical tiles and tile-hanging. These features show how buildings were made hundreds of years ago.
Guildford House Today
Today, Guildford House is home to some of the amazing art collected by the Guildford borough. It has the world's largest public collection of pastel portraits by a famous artist named John Russell. He was born in Guildford in 1745 and lived until 1806.
Guildford House also hosts different art exhibitions throughout the year. These exhibitions change regularly, so there's always something new to see! In June 2009, Guildford House joined forces with other important historical sites. These include Guildford Museum, Guildford Guildhall, and Guildford Castle. Together, they are all managed as 'Guildford Heritage'. This helps to look after and share Guildford's rich history.
Images for kids
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Astrolabe by Richard Quinnel in the courtyard
