Leicester Guildhall

Leicester Guildhall, located in Leicester, England, is Leicester's oldest civil building and dates back to medieval times. This location has served a number of purposes since it's construction around the year of 1390. These purposes include being Leicester's Town Hall, an entertainment space, a library, a school, a museum, and it served as Leicester's first police station. Despite the hall's historical importance, there were considerations around destroying it during the year of 1876. Luckily, the location was saved and has since been listed as a protected building with it currently being predominantly used as a museum and entertainment space.

With a location this old, it's expected that there are tales of spirits haunting the location. The common word is that the Leicester Guildhall has five resident spirits, although over five spirits have been listed as haunting the building. The commonly reported spirits are a white lady, a monk, a soldier, a policeman, a cat, and a dog. This location also contains a painting which some people have claimed to see legs grow out from.

History

The city of Leicester is one of the oldest settlements in England with it's origins being traced back to at least the Iron Age. The city has significant evidence remaining of the Roman settlement which existed here, particularly on the east bank of the River Soar. The bath house and palaestra at Jewry Wall represent the only standing remains of Ratae Corieltauvorum; one of the largest standing pieces of Roman civilian building in the country. There is little known about the settlement which existed here between the time of the Roman departure and the medieval period.

Leicester Guildhall is named so because it was the meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi. This guild consisted of a select group of influential businessmen and gentry, and it was apparently founded during 1343. I have found conflicting information from Historic England here saying that the guild was founded during 1347. I'm unsure why the two seperate dates exist, but with further research it seems guilds of Corpus Christi were founded at different times across the country with there being reports of one based in York being founded during 1408. It doesn't explain the differing dates for the Leicester guild, but it highlights the opportunity for misinformation.

The Leicester guild had their own alter and chapel within St. Martins Church, now known as Leicester Cathedral, located next to the hall. The segment of Leicester Guildhall which is known as 'The Great Hall' was the first part of the building to be constructed, and it was built for the guild during the year of 1390. The guild was the richest in Leicester, which was only a town at the time, and it served as a powerful force. The emblem for this guild was the Host and Chalice. This emblem can be seen in the painted glass windows, which are located in the Mayor's Parlour, as these windows date back to the 1400s.

The guild used the Great Hall for banquets at times of high festivals. Originally, this space had a beaten earth floor and it would have been laid with rushes and heated by an open hearth which sent smoke rising to the roof. Around the year of 1450, the building was enlarged. It was then during the year of 1477 that ordinances gave the masters of the guild precedence over the mayor and the council. During 1489, there was another amendment to the building as the west wing, including the Mayor's Parlour, was added. I've found that this extension also included the addition of a range to the east around the year of 1490.

From 1495, the Corporation of Leicester began to meet at the Guildhall, most likely because many guild members were associated with the Corporation. The meetings of the Corporation of Leicester being held here has implied that the Guildhall was Leicester's Town Hall from 1495. However, it seems there isn't a specific date as to when the location was officially acknowledged as being Leicester's Town Hall. It's been said that it was during the 1500s and 1600s that, along with use for civic business, the Quarter Sessions were held here along with public meetings, civic dinners, and dramatic entertainments. During the 1530s, the dissolution of the monasteries and religious guilds begun to happen; however, it seems the Leicester Guild of Corpus Christi wasn't dissolved until the 1540s with the years of 1547 and 1548 being cited across sources.

Following the guild's dissolution in either 1547 or 1548, the Corporation bought the Guildhall and used it as the Town Hall. The Corporation bought the building for £25 15s 4d; also known as 25 pounds, 15 shillings, and 4 pence. It's been said that by 1563, the Guildhall belonged to the Corporation and as a result had become Leicester's first Town Hall. As said earlier, this statement shows that there are different interpretations of when it became the Town Hall. Some seem to say it became so when the Corporation began to hold meetings there, and others seem to think it became so only after the Corporation purchased the building. Having said this, it was during the year of 1563 that the ground floor of the west wing officially became the Mayor's Parlour.

During 1588, the Spanish Armada was defeated and it's recorded that the Mayor of Leicester then used the Guildhall for a feast during the same year to celebrate the event. Arms and armour were kept in the building during this time to be used in the event of a possible invasion. During the 1600s, the painted panels in the Great Hall ceiling were added. These panels show the coat of arms of the Borough along with the arms of the Hastings family. Over the arms of the Hastings family can be seen a quote which reminded the courts and corporations that 'God shall bring every work into judgement'. During the early 1600s, decorate features of the Mayor's Parlour were also added.

It is said that William Shakespeare staged a theatrical performance here. More specifically, there is a tradition which says Shakespeare was a member of one of the theatre companies which performed in this location. It's said he first came across the tale of King Leir when appearing here and that's what inspired him to write his own play called 'King Lear' somewhere around 1605 or 1606. There is no historical evidence to support this, but the legend of King Leir is associated with Leicester.

During 1632, the Town Library moved into the Guildhall from the bell tower of St. Martins Church. Due to this, the upper floor of the east wing, which was originally quarters for the chantry priests of the guild, was remodelled in order to accommodate the library's collection. The library is the third oldest public library in England, and it's volumes include the 'Codex Leicestrensis', an important manuscript of the New Testament in Greek dating to the 1400s, a Latin grammar of 1592 with the signature of Ben Jonson who was a playwright and contemporary of Shakespeare, a copy of William Harvey's 1639 work on the circulation of blood titled 'De Motu Cordis et Sanguinis', and a New Testament in an American Indian language intended for missionary work in New England.

During 1637, panelling and an overmantle was added to the building. It has been described thst the parlour was extensively and expensively remodelled during this year, so I assume this included adding panelling and an overmantle. The fireplace in the Mayor's Chamber, which is possibly someone calling the Mayor's Parlour by a different name, bears the date of 1637. The location was described as 'new built' following the work done in this year. Richard Inge, the Mayor during this year, also gave the mayor's chair with the arms of Charles I. It has also been said that during 1637, the room above the Mayor's Parlour became a Jury Room and the hall was used for the Borough Quarter Sessions. Apparently a bedroom for use of the Recorder, a local judicial officer who was the head of the Quarter Sessions, was created in a part of the upper floor of the east wing.

When the English Civil War begun, the mayor and Corporation met at the Guildhall to make key decisions. These decisions included how to respond for royalist demands for money. On the 30th of May 1645, Prince Rupert attacked the town and breached it's walls. A last stand was made by the defenders outside of Leicester Guildhall and St. Martins Church, but royalists entered the guildhall and looted the town's archives, Mace, and Seal. However, within a few weeks the royalists were defeated at the Battle of Naseby and Oliver Cromwell's forces advanced on Leicester. The royalists surrendered and a thanksgiving dinner was arranged at Leicester Guildhall to celebrate Cromwell's victory.

From the later 1700s, Leicester was a large and more important town. During 1835, the Municipal Reform Act was passed and ratepayers voted in a new council including local tradespeople such as hosiers, grocers, drapers, spinners, and bankers. This led to the reformed Corporation coming to power on the 1st of January 1836. They immediately held an auction in the Great Hall to dispose of civic silver and china including the Grate Mace; something viewed as the ceremonial trappings of an earlier age. During 1836, the reformed Corporation also resolved to establish a Borough police force.

Also during 1836, a domestic wing was added to the building. The banqueting kitchens, which were located on the south side of the courtyard, were demolished and replaced with a house which was used as the 'Constables Cottage' for the superintendent of the police force. The constable who lived here was the first Chief Constable of Leicester's newly formed police force. Leicester Guildhall was Leicester's first police station during this time and, during 1840, the ground floor of the eastern wing was altered to give offices and cells. Originally there were three cells and a charge room.

There has been great contradiction amongst sources as to when the location was used as a police station. It seems the correct date is 1836 due to the modifications to the building, but other sources have claimed 1876 and 1896 as the correct dates. I couldn't find anything definitive, and the same goes for when it stopped being a police station. The best I could find is it stopped being a police station during the 1900s. It has been said that until the 1900s the building 'saw many unsavoury characters pass through it's doors'. It's been implied that 'Crankie Gemmie' and 'Emma Smith' were two of Leicester's notorious pickpockets who were potentially imprisoned here. With further research, I can't find information on these two and so am unsure if they're fictional characters for the museum.

During 1876, a new Town Hall was built on the Horse Fair in Leicester. It's been said that the Guildhall was the Town Hall between the years of 1495 and 1875, but some sources say that it ceased being the Town Hall once the new one was operational during 1876. Regardless, the guildhall was inadequate for use as a Town Hall for a rapidly growing town. Due to the building's loss of civic purpose, during 1876 it was threatened with demolition. The building became neglected and people considered it to be old-fashioned and gloomy. The building wasn't demolished during 1876, and after this year it was used for a variety of purposes. Apparently, one such purpose was a domestic science school for girls with cooking lessons taking place in the Great Hall. I couldn't find any further details on this school.

In the year of 1922, the newly-created city council led a major renovation project which was spearheaded by the Leicester Archaeological Society. This renovation was directed by T. H. Fosbrooke, and it involved structural repairs along with the removal of various accretions which had obscured the architectural character of the building. It was on the 19th of May 1926 that the guildhall officially reopened to the public as a museum. This reopening followed a celebratory meeting which was held in the Great Hall and attended by the Mayor and the Corporation.

Leicester Guildhall gained a grade I listing on the 5th of January 1950. Between 1991 and 1993, a further programme of repair and renovation was undertaken to the Great Hall, Mayor's Parlour, Library, and Jury Room. In more recent times, it has been involved in TV. The TV company 'Maya Vision' brought the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform here as part of it's 2003 BBC series 'In Search of Shakespeare' whichcwas written and narrated by the historian Michael Wood. On the 4th of February 2013, a press conference was held in the guildhall which confirmed that archaeologists had found the remains of King Richard III in the nearby Greyfriars car park. The remains were originally found during the September of 2012, and it was during the reign of King Richard III that the guildhall was important.

Today Leicester Guildhall is used for concerts, plays, comedy gigs, craft fairs, weddings, and exhibitions. During the day, the building is open as a public museum and it's home to the Medieval Leicester Galleries and the White Rose Cafe. Two pieces of information which I've found, but am not sure on if they're correct, are that apparently parlaiment was held here and during victorian times it was called 'The Old Barn'. While under this name, it was apparently used for entertainment and public feasts. I've only found one source say these two pieces of information, so I think they may have it muddled up with somewhere else. I feel parlaiment being held here would be too big of a thing for other sources to leave out.

Hauntings

As said in the opening, it's widely reported that there are five resident ghosts here. However, in total I've found more than five be reported across sources. There is a white lady here, and it's said she haunts the library, but sources have said some people think she is actually a monk dressed in grey. The Old Grey Friars monastery existed only 300 yards away from the building, so people have speculated this to be why a monk haunts the location. Two of the five are a dog and a cat. The dog haunts the courtyard and the cat haunts the Great Hall. The cat has also been seen at the top of the stairs in this area. Another of the five is a soldier from the English Civil War. It's said he haunts the Great Hall and can be heard groaning. The sound of footsteps has also been reported to occur in the Great Hall. The final of the five is a policeman who has been said to appear in the Jury Room. Loud footsteps and objects moving on their own have also been reported in this room.

Immediately there is some debate over if the five is actually six as it depends on if the white lady and monk are the same spirit or seperate. However, apparently in the old cells there is an old man who wears rags and sways from side to side; so, he would make for a sixth or seventh spirit. Cries and moans have also been reported in the cells. The white lady and monk have been reported to be seperate with both haunting the library, but with both activing differently. The white lady moves tudor furniture around and opens doors even if they're locked and bolted. The monk is said to walk and stop infront of a closed King James I bible which mysteriously opens itself by the time people see it in the morning.

Regarding the bible, it's said it opens to a verse concerning witchcraft. This verse is Deuteronomy 18:10 and it's been speculated that it could be the policeman who opens it to this page. This is because it contains the quote 'you must be blameless before the Lord your God'. Another spirit I've found information about is that of a victorian woman who haunts the old jail cells. It's believed that she is the spirit of a former prostitute who died in that cell. Other reports include being touched on the head and back, hearing screams, seeing shadow figures, and feelings of intense sickness or fear which return to normal when leaving that area.

Some people have claimed to see legs grow from the portrait of Henry, Earl of Huntington, which hangs in the Mayor's Parlour. Sources reporting this have said the location is the 'Major's Parlour', but I suspect this is just a spelling error. Also, during 2006, Ghost Scene Investigations and Leicester City Museums released CCTV footage of what looks like a spirit crawling along the floor in one of the rooms. Other spirits reported include a powerfully-built surgeon, a child called Sarah who was accused of stealing apples, amd a man in the library. The source listing those ones has also said there is a Victorian prostitute called Lucy. As other sources haven't discussed these spirits, and these reports feature names, I suspect these ones were sensed by a medium. They were reported by 'Paranormal Eye UK' which is a ghost tour/hunt website.

Summary Of Hauntings

1. A white lady, moves tudor furniture, opens doors - Library

2. A monk, dressed in grey, possibly opens bible - Library

3. A policeman - Jury Room

4. An English Civil War soldier

5. A cat - stairs, Great Hall

6. A dog - courtyard

7. A man, wears rags, sways - old cells (?)

8. Lucy (?), a victorian woman, prostitute - old cells (?)

9. Sarah (?), a child (?)

10. A powerfully-built surgeon (?)

11. A man - library (?)

12. Bible opens by itself to Deuteronomy 18:10

13. Shadow figures

14. Screams

15. Footsteps - Jury Room, Great Hall

16. Feelings of intense sickness or fear

17. Touched on back of head or back

18. Cries and moans - old cellars

19. Legs grow out of Henry, Earl of Huntington, portrait - Mayor's Parlour

20. Locked doors open

21. Tudor furniture moves

My Thoughts

Personally, I am inclined to stick to the common word about there only being five active hauntings to this location. This means, as far as I'm concerned, there is either a lady in white or a monk, plus a policeman, a soldier from the English Civil War, a cat, and a dog. I suspect anything additional is likely due to a medium visiting the location and saying things which may or may not be true. This isn't to say that the spirits such as the victorian woman and swaying man aren't present, they could be; however, I'm less trusting of these reports. Outside of the apparitions, the activity is fairly standard for haunted locations. The only thing that sticks out to me as obscure is the report of legs growing out of the painting. I suspect that if this haunting is legitimate, then it isn't the ghost of Henry but is rather a different spirit in the building.

What's particularly interesting to me about this location are the reports about the dog and cat. It isn't often that animals are rumoured to haunt a location, so for that this location will be tagged as a 'Location of Interest'. I know there can be debate as to if ghosts of animals exist, so investigating this location could serve as a good case study to find though out. As with any location, I do think this one will be haunted. I am very wary though because it's an iconic Leicester location which does host ghost tours and other events. This means there is ample opportunity for there to be a tourism angle to the reported hauntings; after all, it is rare for a location to have a set number of reported hauntings.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this article! It's a locaiton I hadn't heard of before, and I was amazed to see how long the building has been standing for. I'm also quite surprised that it doesn't have that much history in the grand scheme of things, but I suppose being a Town Hall for such a long time would limit that. The next article will be uploaded on Friday the 24th of January and it will document a type of spirit. The following article will be published on Monday the 27th of January and will document a haunted location in Greater Manchester.

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