It was built in the Gothic style with the great porch doors in Hindustani Gothic, installed in the 1780s.  An addition to the building was built in the 1970s and is referred to as the Pepper pot.  Inside the 25 Aldermen sit and hold court.  Back in the 1780s the courtyard was much smaller and looked similar to a cathedral close.  The Georgian and Victorian additions were knocked down in the 1980s, opening the courtyard out into a wonderful, bright, open space. 

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Inside, the main hall holds many statues and monuments.  Ian showed us some of his favourites including a bronze of Churchill sitting in an armchair by Oscar Nemon in 1955.  There is also a monument to Nelson and a statue of Wellington alongside allegories of Peace and War.  A statue of William Beckford was installed in 1767 as he was the Lord Mayor of the day.  An owner of more than 10,000 slaves, a debate recently took place as to whether his statue should be removed.  It remains today in the hall, but a plaque has been added to explain its context.  Gog and Magog, the mythological figures said to be the protectors of the City are also represented as statues made of limewood.

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Some of the original windows are still there, glazing made of cow horn.  A cheaper material than glass, which let light through but was hard to see out of.  Shields of all the livery companies in the City of London are represented around the walls of the hall, including the great 12 which are considered the most powerful – including the mercers, drapers, goldsmiths, grocers, merchant tailors and skinners.  In Tudor times the hall was used to hold trials, including for Lady Jane Grey and her husband Lord Guildford Dudley.

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Today, the building is used for many ceremonies and banquets throughout the year.      Once a month it holds the court of common council – effectively a local council meeting for the city of London.

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Today it has the 696th Lord Mayor who is considered the ambassador for the City of London and their role is non-political.  There are 25 wards in the City each represented by an Alderman.   Every year, a new Lord Mayor is elected and the day before power is given to them, the Silent Ceremony is held at the Guildhall.  Apart from one spoken declaration the whole ceremony takes place in silence. 

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The City of London has its own police force who are distinctive by the crest on their helmets and brass buttons on their jackets. 

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In the 1980s an art gallery was built on and during the initial excavations for the pilings, Roman remains were found including bones, coins, pottery and building stones.  In 1988, the archaeologists realised that the stones they had uncovered were from a Roman amphitheatre.  Today, the outline of the amphitheatre is represented by a slate curve laid in the courtyard and under the art gallery the remains can be visited and viewed.  The amphitheatre was probably used for animal fights, public executions of slaves and the more prestigious gladiator fights.

 

The art gallery now houses a fine collection of Victorian paintings including the pre-Raphaelites Rossetti and Millais.   Ian showed us one of his favourite paintings in the art gallery by William Logsdail, The Ninth of November – Lord Mayor’s Show, 1888.  It’s a huge painting with lots of detail showing the Lord Mayor’s procession through the streets of London.  It took two years to complete and Logsdail used many friends and relatives as models for the painting, including the artist and his friend, John Waterhouse.  The gold coach is still used today for the Lord Mayor’s procession and is housed at the Museum of London during the year. 

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The art gallery is open every day and entry is free, including the Roman remains in the basement.  The Guildhall itself can be seen during official guided tours.

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Livery companies today are charitable outlets providing funds for schools, City Churches and others.  Many are active with technical programmes in their own industries, providing and funding training and support. 

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10,000 acres outside of London, including Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches nature reserve, are looked after and supported by the City of London as well as the Heathrow animal reception centre which takes care of animals that enter the country and are quarantined.

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Our local Treloar’s school and hospital is supported and funded by the City of London and the Lord Mayor’s visit is often the highlight of the year.

Vicki Cowan