GRANTHAM: The Guildhall
The Guildhall is situated on St Peter's Hill in Grantham and was built in 1866. Once the home of Civic power in Grantham it is now the home of the Guildhall Arts Centre but still retains some of its former political trappings as it still houses the Mayor's Parlour inside the main entrance to the building. In front of the Guildhall is a statue to Sir Isaac Newton, Grantham's most famous son, who was born in Colsterworth and who went to school in the town at the King's School.
HISTORY
The Guildhall and jail on St Peter’s Hill in Grantham was commissioned in 1866 by Mayor Thomas Winter after criminal Jesse Dale, who was serving 15 years for stealing, twice walked out of the town’s original jail in 1864.
The new Guildhall was also home to the four-sided clock which was the first time many of the town’s residents would have had the luxury of telling the time with any accuracy. It was this fact that coined the local phrase ‘under the clock’ meaning, ‘to appear in court’.
In 1972, a dome replaced the original wrought ironwork over the clock tower and in 1974, the magistrates moved to the London Road, now home to Belvoir Property Management. In the same year, South Kesteven District Council was born and the Grantham Borough Council ceased to exist.
Apart from the Mayor’s Parlour, much of the building was redundant until 1991 when it was redesigned by Sleaford architect Tim Benton and re-opened as the council owned Guildhall Arts Centre at a cost of £1.2 million.
CLICK HERE for more information on the history of the Guildhall and on the Guildhall Arts Centre
Images taken on the Fujifilm Finepix X100 and 23mm f2 Fujinon lens
ALL IMAGES ARE THE PROPERTY OF MACLEAN PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION
HISTORY
The Guildhall and jail on St Peter’s Hill in Grantham was commissioned in 1866 by Mayor Thomas Winter after criminal Jesse Dale, who was serving 15 years for stealing, twice walked out of the town’s original jail in 1864.
The new Guildhall was also home to the four-sided clock which was the first time many of the town’s residents would have had the luxury of telling the time with any accuracy. It was this fact that coined the local phrase ‘under the clock’ meaning, ‘to appear in court’.
In 1972, a dome replaced the original wrought ironwork over the clock tower and in 1974, the magistrates moved to the London Road, now home to Belvoir Property Management. In the same year, South Kesteven District Council was born and the Grantham Borough Council ceased to exist.
Apart from the Mayor’s Parlour, much of the building was redundant until 1991 when it was redesigned by Sleaford architect Tim Benton and re-opened as the council owned Guildhall Arts Centre at a cost of £1.2 million.
CLICK HERE for more information on the history of the Guildhall and on the Guildhall Arts Centre
Images taken on the Fujifilm Finepix X100 and 23mm f2 Fujinon lens
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ALL IMAGES ARE THE PROPERTY OF MACLEAN PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION
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