15th Century Porch
(note the octagonal turrets and chequer flushwork above the windows)

Architecture of the Guildhall

Bury St Edmunds Guildhall stands on Guildhall Street, to which it had given its name by 1295. The exterior gives little clue to what lies inside. Low brick walls with cast-iron railings enclose a building that appears largely 19th century with white brick walls and six large sash windows. In the centre of the front range is a late 15th century porch, with octagonal stone turrets and chequer flushwork. Inside this is an outstanding 13th century entrance arch with dog-tooth ornamentation. This leads into a small hall between two main rooms. On the left is the court room, with panelling and dado and a gallery supported by fluted Doric pillars. Below the ceiling are corbels and roof trusses, all that can be seen of an unusual timber roof that combines king and queen posts. On the right is the banqueting room, panelled with an ornate 18th century fireplace. Both rooms contain some fine portraits of people associated with the town’s history. Above the entrance door an open minstrels’ gallery leads to a small room above the porch, used as an evidence room. Behind the main range is an 18th century extension with various service rooms and the remains of the old Guildhall kitchen.

History of the Guildhall

The earliest documentary reference to the Guildhall is 1279 and parts of the fabric date from the 13th century. It was built by the townspeople and used for councils, conferences and other civic events. Bury St Edmunds was a monastic borough, controlled by the abbey of St Edmund, and the abbey kept a firm hold over the affairs of the town. The Guildhall was the place associated with the townsfolk’s struggle for independence, which is why it plays an important part in the history of the town. During a violent dispute between the abbey and the town in 1327, the prior and some of the monks were imprisoned in the Guildhall for several days. In the 15th century, the Guildhall was largely rebuilt, and it still retains its 15th century roof and porch. In 1569, after the dissolution of the abbey, the Guildhall was bought by the Feoffees of the town lands of Bury St Edmunds, later known as the Guildhall Feoffees. In 1606, James I granted the town a charter of incorporation, which gave it the status of a free borough, with the right to set up a corporation. This corporation met in the Guildhall until a new Council Chamber was built in 1966. The Guildhall was also used for all kinds of public event, including dinners, social events, plays, sales, lectures and meetings. Between 1768 and 1807, the building was modernised, when it took on its present day appearance. From 1848 until the early years of the 20th century, the Bury and West Suffolk Library operated from the Banqueting Room, and in 1893, the Guildhall Feoffees handed the building over to the Town Council. Now it is used by the Theatre Royal for performances, workshops, rehearsals and recitals.

Main sources:

• M. Statham, The Guildhall, Bury St. Edmunds (Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, xxxi, part 2, 1968)
• Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest for Bury St Edmunds (DCMS, 1997)