Peterborough Guildhall


Peterborough Guildhall is a municipal building in Cathedral Square, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The current structure replaced a medieval guildhall which was situated on the northern side of Cathedral Square. The local people decided to erect a new structure to commemorate the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The site selected for the new building had previously been occupied by the "Butter Cross" or dairy market. The current building, which was designed by John Lovin who had also been the architect for the restoration work on the Bishop's Palace in Peterborough, was completed in 1671. It is very similar in design to the Old Town Hall in Amsterdam which was painted by Pieter Jansz before it was demolished. The building, which was funded by public subscription, bears the Royal arms of King Charles II and shields displaying the arms of Bishop Joseph Henshaw, Dean James Duport, Humphrey Orme MP and the Montagu family.
The building benefited from some restoration work in 1929. The upper floor of the guildhall, which is reached by a cast iron staircase, was the meeting place of Peterborough Municipal Borough Council from its incorporation in 1874 until the Town Hall was completed in 1933. The council proposed a scheme in the early 21st century whereby the open ground floor, which had once created a space where the butter and poultry markets could operate, would be enclosed by glass; this scheme was abandoned on the grounds of cost.