Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester
This timber framed building was originally the Hall of the Corpus Christi Guild. The guild was founded in 1347 by a group of gentry and wealthy businessmen. This hall was probably built in c1390. It was used as the Town Hall from c1495 to 1875. The Guild was dissolved in 1548 and Leicester Corporation bought the buildings for the sum of £25 15s 4d. In 1632 the Town Library was moved into the East Wing of the Guildhall from St Martin' s Church. It is the third oldest public library in the country. It had a variety of uses after a new town hall opened in 1876, but eventually fell in to disrepair. It was however well restored in 1922-26.
