Newport Guildhall is a municipal structure in the High Street in Newport, Isle of Wight, England. The guildhall, which was the headquarters of Newport Borough Council, is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
| Newport Guildhall | |
|---|---|
 Newport Guildhall | |
| Location | High Street, Newport |
| Coordinates | 50°42′01″N 1°17′35″W / 50.7004°N 1.2931°W |
| Built | 1819 |
| Architect | John Nash |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Guildhall |
| Designated | 1 October 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1278563 |
  Shown on the Isle of Wight | |
History edit
The first municipal building in Newport was a 17th town hall located between Watchbell Lane and Holyrood Street; it was arcaded on the ground floor, so that markets could be held, with an assembly room on the first floor.[2] In the early 19th century civic leaders decided to procure a new building on a site just to the east of the original building.[2]
The new building was designed by John Nash in the neoclassical style, rendered with stucco and completed in 1819.[1][3] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing onto Quay Street; the design of the building, which was arcaded on the ground floor, involved a tetrastyle portico with Ionic order columns on the first floor supporting an entablature and a dentilled pediment.[1] There were sash windows on the first floor, which was recessed with iron railings at the front.[1] A clock tower with a cupola was erected in 1887–8 in the southwest corner of the building to celebrate Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.[1]
The building continued to serve as the headquarters of Newport Borough Council until 1967, when it was converted to the island's main law courts.[4] Newport Council and its successor Medina Borough Council, were subsequently based at the former town clerk's office at 17 Quay Street in Newport,[5][6] but, by the mid-1980s, civic leaders increasingly operated from the more substantial facilities at Northwood House in Cowes.[7][8] After the construction of Newport Law Courts in Quay Street in 1994, the building was no longer required as a judiciary facility; instead, it was a converted for use a tourist information office[9] and the Museum of Island History was established in the building in 1996.[10] The museum's collection was formed from archaeological material previously held by the Carisbrooke Castle Museum, but, since then, it has inherited or purchased other collections covering all aspects of the island's history from its geological origins to the present day.[11]
Works of art in the guildhall include a portrait of the Italian political leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi, who visited Brook House, the home of the politician, Charles Seely, in 1864.[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Historic England. "The Guildhall (1278563)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ a b Page, William (1912). "'Parishes: Newport', in A History of the County of Hampshire". London: British History Online. pp. 253–265. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Guildhall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight: elevations of the entrance front facing Quay Street and the main front facing High Street". Royal Institute of British Architects. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Titchmarsh leads farewells to Isle of Wight courts' Carol". 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Town clerk's office (1276840)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "No. 46658". The London Gazette. 12 August 1975. p. 10282.
- ^ "No. 48250". The London Gazette. 11 July 1980. p. 9962.
- ^ Historic England. "Northwood House (Offices of Medina Borough Council) (1223779)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Guildhall re-opens as Visitor Information Centre". Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Archaeology Timeline" (PDF). The Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Best Vale Review: Museum Service" (PDF). Isle of Wight Council. 1 February 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Garibaldi Portrait Celebration". Events On The Wight. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2021.