HODs: Norwich Guildhall Tour

Take a tour around England’s largest and most elaborate provincial medieval city hall as part of Heritage Open Days.

Norwich Guildhall was the centre of city government from the early 15th century until its replacement by City Hall in 1938. As well as various courts, a prison and a chapel, the building contained facilities for accounting and tax collection, accommodation for civic officials (it remains the home of the Sheriff’s parlour today) and storage space for records, money and civic regalia. The Sheriff’s Court was designed for meetings of the full medieval Council and now contains a virtually intact late Victorian courtroom. The Council Chamber is more elaborate with oak panelling, renaissance decorative woodwork and stunning stained glass – designed to impress from the start. The undercroft, beneath the east end, pre-dates the building and is thought to be an original feature of the earlier toll-house on this site. It was used to accommodate more dangerous criminals. The exterior provides an excellent example of the flint work that the city is so famous for.

Having more recently hosted cafes, the tourist information centre and an escape room, the majority of the building currently acts as an office and home to Norfolk & Norwich Festival which has just celebrated its 250th anniversary.

These tours are delivered by guides from The Norwich Society.