The Guildhall
THE GUILDHALL, MARKET PLACE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1037186
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jan-1958
- List Entry Name:
- The Guildhall
- Statutory Address:
- THE GUILDHALL, MARKET PLACE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-07-30
- Reference:
- IOE01/04913/02
- Rights:
- © Mr Bob Cottrell. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1037186
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jan-1958
- List Entry Name:
- The Guildhall
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE GUILDHALL, MARKET PLACE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE GUILDHALL, MARKET PLACE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Suffolk
- District:
- Babergh (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Lavenham
- National Grid Reference:
- TL9159749287
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 27/03/2013
TL 9149 50/617
23.1.58
LAVENHAM,
MARKET PLACE (south-east side)
The Guildhall
GV
I
A superb early C16 timber-framed building with plaster infill (circa
1529). It was the hall of the Guild of Corpus Christi, founded in 1529,
and one of the 4 medieval guilds of Lavenham. It is one of the finest
examples of half timbering in this part of the country. In the C18
and C19 it was used as the Bridewell and workhouse and was restored
by Sir Cuthbert Quilter (circa 1911). It is now owned by the National
Trust. All the timber-framing is very heavy and closely spaced. Roofs
tiled. At the south-west end there is a cross wing with a jettied gable
on a moulded and carved bressumer and a return front on Lady Street.
Two storeys. A fine two storeyed gabled porch projects on the north-west
front, with heavy carved corner posts and doorcase. The upper storey
is jettied on both fronts on a richly carved bressumer which extends
across the whole building. At the north-west corner there is a heavy
corner post carved with a figure with a lance. The windows have all
been restored to their original pattern, mostly 5 or 6 light shallow
oriel windows with moulded sills, the upper windows are mullioned and
the ground storey windows are mullioned and transomed, all with lattice
leaded lights. The interior has heavy moulded and carved timber and
much fine detail. There is a large chimney stack on the cross wing
with sawtooth shafting.
Listing NGR: TL9159749287
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 276767
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 11:54:57.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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