Guildhall, Derry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guildhall |
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The Guildhall
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| Location | Guildhall Square, Derry |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | John Guy Ferguson |
| Architectural style(s) | Beaux-Arts |
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Listed Building – Grade A
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| Designated | 25 May 1976 |
| Reference no. | HB 01/19/038 |
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The Guildhall is a famous building in Derry, Northern Ireland. It's where the elected members of the Derry City and Strabane District Council meet to make important decisions for the city. It's also a very special building, officially known as a Grade A listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and beauty.
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History of the Guildhall
Building the First Guildhall
Before the Guildhall you see today, there was an older building called the Market House. It was built in the 1600s. Sadly, it was destroyed during a big event called the Siege of Derry in 1689.
The current Guildhall was finished in 1890. A man named John Guy Ferguson designed it. A group called The Honourable The Irish Society paid for it to be built. The tall clock tower looks a lot like the famous Elizabeth Tower in London!
Rebuilding After a Fire
In 1908, a terrible fire damaged the Guildhall. Only the clock tower and a back part of the building survived.
The Honourable The Irish Society helped again with more money. The Guildhall was rebuilt in 1912 by Mathew Alexander Robinson. A huge organ was put in the building in 1914. It was designed by Sir Walter Parratt and has an amazing 3,132 pipes!
The Guildhall During Difficult Times
During a period known as The Troubles, the Guildhall faced several attacks. The building was badly damaged by two bombs in 1972.
It cost £1.7 million to fix the Guildhall, and it reopened in 1977. On September 23, 1980, a theatre group called Field Day Theatre Company performed their first play, Translations, right here in the Guildhall.
A Place for Local Government
For many years, the Guildhall was the main meeting place for the local government of Londonderry. When the Londonderry City Council was formed in 1972, they continued to meet there. The council later changed its name to Derry City Council in 1984.
The open area in front of the Guildhall, called Guildhall Square, is often used for important events. In November 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton even gave a speech there when he visited the city.
The Guildhall was also where a major investigation, the Saville Inquiry, took place. This inquiry looked into the events of Bloody Sunday from 1998 to 2005.
Modern Restoration and Future Use
A big project to restore the Guildhall started in August 2010. The company that built Belfast City Hall, H & J Martin, did the work.
The outside work cost £3 million. This included fixing the stone, roofs, windows, and stained glass. New steps and a ramp were also added at the entrance. Stephen Calderwood, who had worked on the stained glass after the 1972 bombings with his father, helped restore them again.
The inside work cost about £5 million. It made the Guildhall even better for tourists and visitors. This whole restoration project was finished in 2013. The architects, Consarc Architects, even won an award for their design in 2014 from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
After some changes to local government, the Guildhall became the meeting place for the larger Derry and Strabane City Council in 2014. This council was later renamed Derry City and Strabane District Council in 2016.
Images for kids
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The Guildhall
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Pipe organ in the Main Hall
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The Guildhall in August 2016
