Exeter's Historic Guildhall
Introduction

The Guildhall has served as the centrepiece of Exeter’s civic life for more than 800 years. A structure of outstanding architectural interest, it is not merely an ancient monument but remains a busy working building, still used regularly for a variety of civic functions — full meetings of the City Council, official receptions for the city’s visitors, meetings of city charities and other voluntary bodies, annual mayoral banquets and exhibitions relating to the city’s past or its future development – and occasionally as a magistrates’ court. Its treasures include a remarkable range of civic regalia, some of the pieces surviving from the Middle Ages, and it once also housed the outstanding collection of city archives, now kept in the security of the Devon Record Office in Castle Street, Exeter.

Many of the dramatic events of Exeter’s history were played out here. Since the Middle Ages kings have been received and entertained here. In the 15th century men were confined overnight in the hall before facing execution the next day on a scaffold outside. Here the Tudor Chamber met to take action against rebellious armies outside the city walls, and determined the city’s course as it rose to commercial prosperity. Judge Jeffreys presided over sessions of the `Bloody Assizes’ at the Guildhall following the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion in 1685. Members of Parliament were chosen here. During the tumultuous mayoral elections of the 18th century rival mobs fought with fists and clubs outside its walls and respectable citizens were pelted with mud and offal. As late as the early 19th century men were sentenced to death here for crimes as minor as stealing a sheep or a cow; others suffered transportation for such offences as stealing a purse containing 1s 6d (7.5p). By contrast, during the Second World War the Guildhall’s use sometimes changed to that of a dance hall, the court benches being cleared for the purpose, whilst the frontage was encased in brick to avoid bomb damage.

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