Leicester Guildhall Museum & Venue

Leicester Guildhall, Leicester

Leicester Guildhall in Leicester is a Grade I Listed medieval building, situated in the city centre, very close to Leicester Cathedral.

Both are within an historic preservation area which also now includes the King Richard III Visitor Centre with interactive exhibits on the king's life, death and the discovery of his grave.

The building was the town hall until the current one was constructed in 1876.

Leicester Guildhall, Leicester, England. — Leicester Guildhall, Leicester, England

Leicester Cathedral, Leicester, England. — Leicester Cathedral, Leicester, England

History

The oldest parts of the timber-framed Guildhall date from the late 14th century.

The building was originally the meeting place of the Guild of Corpus Christi and also a home for a priest at the nearby cathedral.

Over the ages the Guildhall in Leicester has served as town hall, library, police station and even a prison. William Shakespeare is said to have visited and performed here. The building was also attacked and looted by Royalists during the English Civil War in the 1640s.

The museum within the building includes the Victorian police cells and has displays on the medieval history of Leicester.

Today the Guildhall is available for hire for various events including weddings. It also serves as a performance venue welcoming acts from across the country and overseas.

An interesting side note is that the Guildhall is reputed to be the most haunted building in Leicester. Visitors should keep their eyes peeled for paranormal activity in the beautiful Great Hall, the wood-panelled "Mayor's Parlour", and the old police cells, which contain a reconstruction of a nineteenth century gibbet. Altogether the place is said to have five poltergeists.