Nottingham Guildhall

Nottingham Guildhall
Nottingham Guildhall is located in Nottingham
Nottingham Guildhall
Location in Central Nottingham
General information
AddressBurton Street
Town or cityNottingham
Coordinates52°57′23″N 1°9′2.7″W / 52.95639°N 1.150750°W / 52.95639; -1.150750
Groundbreaking1887
Completed1888
Cost£65,000
Design and construction
Architect(s)Thomas Verity and George Henry Hunt
Main contractorGabbutts of Liverpool
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameGuildhall and associated caves
Designated12 July 1972
Reference no.1246296

Nottingham Guildhall is a former magistrates' court in Nottingham, England. The structure, which was used by Nottingham City Council as offices in the 1990s, is a Grade II listed building.[1]

History

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Nottingham Guildhall from the Illustrated Guide to the Church Congress 1897

Nottingham Guildhall was built in 1887 to 1888 to replace the previous Nottingham Guild Hall on Weekday Cross. Following a competition with Alfred Waterhouse as the judge, the French Renaissance Revival design by the architects Thomas Verity and George Henry Hunt was chosen. Gabbutts of Liverpool were chosen as contractors much to the annoyance of local building companies.[2] The initial estimate for the building was £128,416 (equivalent to £16,336,977 in 2023),[3] and immediately the council asked Verity and Hunt to simplify the design.[4] The building was erected in Darley Dale ashlar and brick, with Westmorland slate roofs for a cost of £65,000[5] (equivalent to £9,145,743 in 2023) [3] and completed in 1888.[1]

In 1996, all magistrates were moved to the new Nottingham Magistrates' Court building.[6] Between 1996 and 2010 the Guildhall was occupied by Nottingham City Council. In 2010 the council left for new, modern offices at Loxley House, close to Nottingham rail station. Since this date the building has remained council-owned but is relatively unused. In 2016, the council initiated discussions with a developer with a view to selling the property.[7][8]

Between May and July 2024, vandals set fire to the guildhall several times. Security at the site has since been increased.[9][10][11]

Caves

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The two-level cave system is reached by an open well stair. The brick-lined passages and cells were extensively modified during World War II for use as emergency headquarters and air raid shelters.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Historic England, "Guildhall and associated caves (1246296)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 April 2017
  2. ^ Victorian Nottingham. A Story in Pictures. Richard Iliffe and Wilfred Baguley. Volume 19.
  3. ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  4. ^ "1883: The Guildhall, Nottingham". Archiseek. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  5. ^ Strangers Guide to Nottingham. 1892.
  6. ^ The Architects' journal, Volume 218, 2003
  7. ^ "Nottingham Guildhall site sale can now be completed after terms agreed". West Bridgford Wire. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Nottingham Guildhall sale back on track after new terms agreed with buyer". Notts TV. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Warning after deliberate fires set in listed building". BBC News. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Warning after spate of 'deliberate' fires at historic Nottingham city centre landmark". Nottingham World. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Security tightened at Nottingham landmark after nine fires in six weeks". Nottinghamshire Live. 14 August 2024.