The Guildhall - Most Impressive Landmark in Londonderry

The History of Guildhall
The Guildhall is one of Derry's most outstanding landmarks and has been so since the 1800s. An iconic building that has seen many events and witnesses history in the making, Guildhall stands in the center of the city to this day as a must-see spot for visitors in Derry-Londonderry.

Name
It was originally named "Victoria Hall" as it was a prevailing custom at the time to name locations around the British Empire after the current reigning monarch. The current name of the building comes in honor of its connection to the City of London and its guilds.

Location
The Guildhall building is located in Derry, County Londonderry,
It serves as a meeting place for the elected members of Derry and Strabane District Council. It is also home to the Derry City Council chamber and the Mayor’s Parlour.

Description
As you cross the entrance to The Guildhall, you’ll find a welcoming note “The Guildhall is one of Derry’s most recognizable landmarks and has been at the heart of the city life since 1890.” As you continue down the hall, you’ll have a beautiful view of the majestic painted windows next to tall plaques retelling the history of the building and the region. The Guildhall also contains exhibitions showcasing old books that contain ancient maps and descriptions of the area as well. A maquette also stands detailing what seems to be what the region looked like in old times. The exterior of the building features neo-gothic architectural designs and a majestic clock tower.

The Guildhall includes a large hall where many social and political events have been held over the years, including Halloween carnivals, the Christmas lights switch-on, the Christmas European Market. The square in front of the Guildhall is the main city square in Derry-Londonderry, making it a focal location in the city, as they are also surrounded by shopping, cultural and touristic areas.

Architecture
Originally built by The Honourable The Irish Society. The red sandstone building is of neo-gothic architecture, with Tudor overtones. The Guildhall contains stunning stained glass windows that portray the history of Derry, and were created by a Belfast firm called Campbell's. It is also said that it has the second largest clock face in the British Isles (next to Big Ben). The building is basically made up of Dumfrese sandstone, marble, oak panelling, ornate ceilings and stained glass windows.
Upon entering the building, one encounters a window featuring the Royal Coat of Arms, the Seal of Empire and the symbols of the principal British overseas Dominions, to celebrate imperial unity.
Former mayors and other civic officers also donated windows to be placed in the building, often depicting modern economic developments in the city. Throughout the building, other windows feature the achievements of the three Irish divisions in the British Army.

The most recently placed window in the Guildhall commemorates the victims of Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972. In the centre, from top to bottom, is a trail of poppies symbolizing remembrance for the dead, whose names are written on crosses. The window was commissioned by Derry City Council.

Frank McDonald of the Irish Times commented on the Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Awards won for the reconstruction of the building, "What impressed the jury (which included myself) about Derry’s Guildhall was not just the internal spatial rearrangement, but also the meticulous work done to the exterior in rebuilding its ornate gable, which had been leaning outwards, as well as complete repointing of the stonework and restoration of the stained glass windows."
Jury member Dr. Eddie McParland noted, “The recarved stonework was excellent, lots of original details were kept and the original ceiling of the council chamber was revealed.”

Construction
The Guildhall was originally built in the 1600s and was located in the Diamond area of the Walled City, but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire and its location was turned later on into a city square. The new Guildhall was opened in July 1890 after three years of construction work to complete the building.
On 21 September 1912, the London Times reported on the building's opening ceremony, declaring that "The Londonderry Guildhall is a fine modern building, the chief treasures in which are the stained glass windows presented by the various London Companies that once owned land in Ireland, and have not forgotten the old association".
Major restorations were done to the building in 2010 by contractors H & J Martin. The cost of the restoration work was estimated at £3M, including the stonework, roofs, windows and stained glass, as well as the clock.
As for the construction work done to the interior of Guildhall, it was estimated to have cost around £5M.

Read more https://www.connollycove.com/guildhal...

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