Rochester Guildhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rochester Guildhall |
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The Guildhall
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| Location | High Street, Rochester |
| OS grid reference | TQ4849781080 |
| Built | 1697 |
| Owner | Medway Council |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 24 October 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1186145 |
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The Rochester Guildhall is a very old and important building in Rochester, Kent, England. It's on the High Street and is known as a Grade I listed building, which means it's super special and protected.
Contents
A Look Back at the Guildhall's History
Long ago, the first guildhall in Rochester was in a different spot. It was located further south on the High Street, where the Clock House stands today.
The building you see today is the second guildhall. It was built way back in 1697. The front of the building had four main sections. The ground floor was open, with tall columns, so people could hold markets there. The first floor had four windows. White plaques between these windows celebrate the building's completion in 1697. They also thank Sir Stafford Fairborne for his financial help.
On the roof, a large, rounded triangle shape called a pediment was built. Above that, a small tower held a bell. In 1780, a cool weather vane shaped like an 18th-century warship was added. Later, more parts were added to the building. A wing was built on the right side in 1838, and another on the left in 1893.
Inside the Guildhall
The most important room inside was the courtroom. Over time, this room also became the council chamber. This is where local leaders met to make decisions for the city. The judges' bench was curved, so everyone on the bench could be seen easily.
Both the council chamber and the main staircase have amazing plaster ceilings. These fancy ceilings were a gift from Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell in 1695. He was a Member of Parliament for Rochester at that time. The council chamber was even mentioned in the famous book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, which was published in 1861.
In the 1930s, before the Second World War, a special headquarters was set up in the basement. This was for civil defence, helping to keep people safe during difficult times.
For most of the 1900s, the council chamber was the main meeting place for the City of Rochester. However, in 1974, the local government changed. The larger Borough of Medway was formed, and the guildhall was no longer the main government building. In 1979, the guildhall became home to the Guildhall Museum.
Discover the Guildhall Museum
The Guildhall Museum first opened at Eastgate House, further down the High Street. It was created in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
Today, the museum has many interesting items. These "artefacts" are objects connected to Rochester's history, from ancient times to today. You can see beautiful artworks there too. These include a painting by Hendrik Frans van Lint showing an Italian landscape. There are also portraits of important people like Sir Cloudesley Shovell by Michael Dahl and Sir Stafford Fairborne by Godfrey Kneller.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Medway
- Guild
- Guildhall
