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 called a "Guildhall" because it was once a meeting place for local groups, like medieval guilds, and later for the city's government. This building is so special that it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country and is protected.
Contents
A Look Back: The Guildhall's Story
Where Was the First Guildhall?
Long ago, the very first guildhall in Rochester was not in the same spot as the one you see today. It was a bit further down High Street, where a building called the Clock House now stands.
Building the Current Guildhall
The building we know as the Rochester Guildhall was built in 1697. It was designed to be a busy and important place. The ground floor was left open with strong columns, so people could hold markets there and sell their goods.
Upstairs, on the first floor, there were four windows. Between these windows, white plaques were placed to remember when the building was finished in 1697. They also thanked Sir Stafford Fairborne for helping to pay for it. On the roof, a large, rounded top part called a pediment was added, with a bell-turret above it. In 1780, a cool weather vane shaped like an 18th-century warship was put on top! Later, more parts were added to the sides of the building in 1838 and 1893.
Inside the Guildhall: Important Rooms
The most important room inside was the courtroom. This is where legal cases were heard. Over time, this room also became the council chamber, where local leaders met to make decisions for the city. The seats for the magistrates (like judges) were curved so everyone could see and hear each other clearly.
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 very important person who represented Rochester in Parliament at the time. You might even recognize the council chamber from the famous book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, which was published in 1861!
From Government to Museum
For most of the 1900s, the council chamber was where the City of Rochester's government met. However, in 1974, the local government changed, and the Guildhall was no longer the main meeting place.
After that, the Guildhall found a new purpose. In 1979, it became the home of the Guildhall Museum.
The Guildhall Museum: Exploring Rochester's Past
What Can You See at the Museum?
The Guildhall Museum actually started in a different building called Eastgate House in 1897. It was created to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, which was a big celebration of her 60 years as queen.
Today, the museum has a huge collection of items that tell the story of Rochester. You can see things from prehistoric times (that's a very, very long time ago!) all the way up to the present day.
Art and Famous Faces
The museum also has some interesting works of art. You can see a painting by Hendrik Frans van Lint that shows a beautiful Italian landscape. There are also portraits of important people like Sir Cloudesley Shovell, painted by Michael Dahl, and Sir Stafford Fairborne, painted by Godfrey Kneller. These paintings help us see what these historical figures looked like!
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Medway
- Guild
- Guildhall
