Leicester, The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane c.1949

Photo ref: L144025

More about this scene

Leicester grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it continued to be governed from its small medieval Guildhall until 1876. Situated among the somewhat reduced remains of the buildings of Georgian Leicester, now tightly grouped in New Street, Peacock Lane and Friar Lane, the Guildhall is overshadowed by St Martins Cathedral (upgraded in 1927 from parish church status). The spire of the church is of the moment, but it was worked on internally by G E Street and J L Pearson at the end of the 19th century. To the rear of the Guildhall, in 1949, was Alderman Newton's Boys Grammar School, the resited 18th-century foundation of Alderman Gabriel Newton, who now lies buried in the churchyard of All Saints, High Cross Street. A visit to the Guildhall is worthwhile, with its amazing 14th-century timbered Great Hall of the Corpus Christi Guild, and the intimate inner courtyard of All Saints, High Cross Street is also worth seeing.

An extract from Leicestershire Photographic Memories.