Guildhall, Chester
The Guildhall, formerly Holy Trinity Church, is a redundant church in Watergate in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.[1] The church closed in 1960, became known as the Guildhall, and was converted to be used for secular purposes.
Guildhall, Chester | |
---|---|
Guildhall from Watergate Street | |
Guildhall, Chester Location in Cheshire | |
OS grid reference | SJ 403 663 |
Location | Watergate Street, Chester, Cheshire |
Country | England |
Denomination | Anglican |
History | |
Former name(s) | Holy Trinity Church, Chester |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Redundant |
Heritage designation | Grade II |
Designated | 28 July 1955 |
Architect(s) | James Harrison |
Architectural type | Church |
Style | Gothic Revival |
Completed | 1869 |
Specifications | |
Materials | Red sandstone with slate roofs |
History
The original building, which had a north aisle, probably dated from the 14th century. The east end and south side were rebuilt in 1680. This church had a spire which was rebuilt in the 1770s but in 1811 was taken down for reasons of safety.[2] The present church was built between 1865 and 1869 to a design by James Harrison. He died before it was finished and the church was completed by the firm of Kelly and Edwards of Chester.[1]
Architecture
Exterior
It is built in red sandstone with grey slate roofs. Its plan consists of a continuous nave and chancel with a clerestory, a west porch, a detached south spire and porch, and a vestry to the south. The tower has three stages with double doors to the east and above this a relief sculpture of Christ enthroned. The second stage has a lancet window and clock faces to the east and south. The third stage has two-light bell-openings, corner buttresses, a pierced parapet and a recessed octagonal stone spire with three lucarnes to each face.[1]
Present day
The building has been converted into two halls, the Major Hall and the Lower Hall, and is used for a variety of events, including conferences, receptions, dances, and concerts.[4]
See also
Media related to Guildhall, Chester at Wikimedia Commons - Guild
- Guildhall Museum
References
- Historic England, "Guildhall, Chester (1376467)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 February 2012
- Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire, Malvern: Folly Publications, p. 29, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
- Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 241, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
- About us, Chester Guildhall, retrieved 22 February 2012