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www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk 024 7683 3328
INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS
Contents
A brief history
Purpose of the building
Plans of the site
Architecture and design
Differences - then and now
Famous visitors
Who were the guilds?
Selected timeline
Suggested study topics
A brief history
A rare and important survivor of the medieval age, St. Mary's is widely considered to be
the one of the finest remaining medieval guildhalls in the country.
Building started on part of the site of the former Coventry castle around the year 1340,
and was completed by the time of the first recorded meeting of the merchant guild of St.
Mary in 1342. The building grew in size and embellishment during subsequent decades,
as Coventry's richest merchant guilds amalgamated, and selected the building as their
common administrative and ceremonial base. By the early fifteenth century, as home to
the united guild of the Holy Trinity, the Guildhall had reached its present size.
Amongst the distinguished members of the guild of the Holy Trinity were Kings Henry V,
VI and VII, all of whom were entertained at the hall and Dick Whittington, three times
mayor of London. One royal visitor who had the rare pleasure of staying overnight at the
hall was Mary Queen of Scots, who spent two months held captive at various locations in
the city of Coventry during the winter of 1569-70.
Later monarchs visited the hall as guests of the city leaders, including King James II who
was received at the hall with such a quantity of food that the monarch's table collapsed
beneath the weight, showering him with Corporation Custard, a local delicacy.
Alongside civic meetings and banquets, the hall also functioned on occasions as a
theatre, its size, acoustics and profile making it an ideal location for such entertainment.
It is almost certain that Shakespeare came to the city as a performer during his acting
career with the Guildhall providing the main venue for such performances, whilst in the
late eighteenth and early nineteenth century frequent visits by the famed actress Sarah
Siddons are recorded.
From the mid fourteenth century onwards, the hall's secondary use was as a Council
House, with Coventry's first mayor, John Ward, being created in the Guildhall in 1349.
This annual ceremony of 'mayor making' continued practically uninterrupted in the hall
until 2002, when growing attendance required it to be moved to the larger space of the
new Cathedral.
After the guilds were dissolved in 1552 the hall continued to be used as a council house,
until the late nineteenth century when council business moved to new buildings. In this
time, the building served the council in a number of unusual ways, including as an
Armoury during the English Civil War, and even as a soup kitchen for starving weavers in
the nineteenth century.
Miraculously the Guildhall largely survived the devastation of bombing raids during the
Second World War, and continues to serve as the primary venue for prestigious civic
functions, whilst also welcoming visitors from around the world, and hosting weddings
and celebrations for the people and businesses of Coventry and beyond.
What was St. Mary’s Guildhall used for?
 When first built in the 1340s, the Guildhall was where the most important
‘merchant guilds’ met. These were a group of the most important and influential
businessmen in the city, who controlled the cloth trade which made Coventry a
wealthy city. The Guildhall is where they had their meetings, and where they had
their grand feasts to celebrate religious festivals and other occasions (they also
kept all their treasures here, locked up in heavy chests in a strong tower)
 As the grandest non-religious building in the city, it was also where any Royal
visitor would be received and entertained
 From the 1350s Coventry also had a mayor and council to govern the city, and the
Guildhall was their primary meeting place to conduct civic business, and for the
‘Court Leet’ which decided on local laws and taxes. This shared use of the building
sounds confusing, but at first the mayor and council were normally leading
members of the merchant guilds also
 King Henry VIII didn’t like the merchant guilds, as he decided they had got too rich
and powerful, just like the chantries (private chapels) and monasteries. Around the
same time as the ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries’, Henry VIII also abolished the
merchant guilds. Although the guilds left, St. Mary’s Guildhall remained as the base
of the mayor and council, although some smaller rooms were rented out. One
room was even used by a shoemaker during the late 1800s!
 Sometimes the Guildhall was used as a theatre, and during Queen Elizabeth I’s
reign she ordered that all theatre companies had to be properly licensed, and if
they went to a new town or city they had to perform their play before the mayor
first. In Coventry this would have certainly taken place at the Guildhall, and
Shakespeare is thought to have performed here
 Music would have been played from the Minstrel’s Gallery above the hall (the ‘City
Waits’ would have played from here – they were official musicians who got a salary
and free house to perform at civic functions)
 The sumptuous feasts would have been prepared in the kitchens which are below
the Great Hall. The kitchens are still there, and still in use but we have more
modern equipment now
 Although the Guildhall was never intended to be a residential building, some
facilities would have been brought in to accommodate Mary Queen of Scots when
she was detained here in 1569-70, whilst in the 1800s there was a ‘hallkeeper’
(presumably a caretaker role) who lived in two or three small rooms on site with
his family
Plans of the site
Architecture and design
 As with many grand medieval buildings, a mixture of materials was used in its
construction.
 The most important, high status parts of the building, such as the entrance porch
and the Great Hall, were constructed of more expensive stone that had to be
quarried, transported and cut to shape (here it was a red sandstone, seen in many
other old buildings of Coventry), whilst lesser areas, and later additions, were
made of cheaper materials in the ‘half-timbered’ style
 The largest and most impressive room of the building is the Great Hall. The design
of this large room can be found in many baronial Great Halls of this age, which
consisted of a large space with a raised stage (a dais) at one end for the most
important individuals, a minstrel’s gallery at the other end from which music was
performed, and a series of three doorways beneath that led to kitchens and other
service rooms. There would have been an ornate screen in front of these doorways
so that guests did not have to see all the activity associated with preparing and
serving their banquets
 On first entering the Great Hall visitors often remark how much it looks like a
church. The room was never used for this purpose, but the resemblance is no
accident as the skilled stonemasons and other craftsmen who built it would have
learned most of their skills and techniques from building churches and cathedrals
(which in many places were some of the first stone built buildings). A number of
important churches and monasteries had been built in Coventry not long before St.
Mary’s Guildhall was constructed
 The stained glass windows were another feature borrowed from ecclesiastical
architecture, although they were also a statement of wealth and status because
they were so expensive (Coventry had a very famous glazier in the early 1400s
called John Thornton who worked on St Michael’s Church and St Mary’s Guildhall,
but is better known for his work at York Minster)
 There are other features of the hall that give the impression of a religious building,
more so than other Great Halls found in great houses and castles at this time.
These include the carvings of angel musicians on the ceiling, and the great tapestry
which has the Virgin Mary at its centre surrounded by saints and apostles. This
reflects the particular religious function of the merchant guilds that occupied the
building: quite apart from being very religious and charitable individuals, the guilds
also named themselves after saints, and honoured them as their patron. The guilds
were also responsible for co-ordinating religious pageants and processions through
the city
 Other rooms in the building were mainly used as additional meeting rooms,
storage rooms or service rooms connected with preparing the great ceremonial
and civic banquets, although at different times also included an Armoury for the
storage of weapons
What did it look like originally?
Much as it does now.
 The main building phases of the present Guildhall were complete by the end of the
1400s (some additional meeting rooms, not normally seen by the public, were
added in the 1860s to the east side of the building)
 The big tapestry in the Great Hall was here for much of the building’s history,
having been made around 1499, whilst the colourful carvings in the roof, and the
great stained glass window above the tapestry date from the early 1400s.
What is different?
The main differences are:
 Obviously they had no electricity, so none of the lights. Instead lots of candles on
torchère stands or in lanterns projecting from the walls
 No radiators, so warmth from a large fireplace. There is no architectural or archival
evidence for wall fireplaces or chimneys in the Great Hall, so it would most likely
have been a large fire hearth in the centre of the room, which was becoming quite
old-fashioned at this time
 The floor of the Great Hall was composed of hundreds of patterned tiles. These
remained in place from the earliest times of the Guildhall until they were replaced
with wooden floorboards in the 1700s. Some surviving examples of the original
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tiles can be seen in the ‘Oriel’ window in the corner of the Hall, and in the
Treasury.
As well as the carvings, the roof was probably painted, possibly dark blue with
golden stars to represent the heavens (a surviving example of this design can be
seen in the nearby Holy Trinity Church)
In the Tudor period the walls beneath the windows were covered with wood
panelling. In 1581 this wood panelling was decorated with panels containing
famous Latin verses, in preparation for a visit by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
These were the work of Philemon Holland, who was a schoolmaster at the
Grammar School (later known as King Henry VIII school)
Painted portraits on the walls are unlikely to have been a feature of the earliest
Great Hall, which was probably decorated with additional tapestries along the
walls, or with painted patterns
We know from early inventories that the furniture was quite simple – a number of
wooden tables and benches, with velvet cushions
Any famous visitors?
Yes, many. In addition to Shakespeare (who it is very likely performed here in the early
1590s) most reigning monarchs visited the Guildhall at some point, as guests of the
Guilds or mayor. Some key visits recorded in the archives include:
 King Henry VI and Queen Margaret – several visits in the 1450s, when the royal
court temporarily relocated to Coventry during the Wars of the Roses
 King Henry VII – the first Tudor king. He visited at least six times, the first time
within hours of having won the crown at the Battle of Bosworth, making this
probably his first engagement as king. Accompanied by his Queen, Elizabeth, on at
least one visit
 Prince Arthur – the eldest son of Henry VII visited in 1498. Unfortunately he died
young so never became king
 King Henry VIII – visited in 1511
 Queen Mary I – visited twice
 Queen Elizabeth I – visited at least three times
 Mary, Queen of Scots – she was imprisoned in the city for nearly a month in 1569,
including two nights at St. Mary’s Guildhall, on the orders of Elizabeth I
 King James I – visited in 1617
 King James II – visited in 1687 (and was splattered with custard when a table
collapsed at the banquet)
 21st century visitors have included Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne
and Prince Edward
Who were the guilds?
 These were brotherhoods of wealthy and like-minded business people, appearing
first in the form of the merchant guilds and later on of craft guilds, who became
intimately connected with the working of many aspects of town life.
 The guild-merchant first arose towards the end of the eleventh century and during
the next three hundred years spread rapidly from town to town
 Its business was the control of trade. Those who belonged to it had special
privileges. They were freed from paying toll, protected from outside competition
and alone had the right of keeping shops. Soon the possession of a guild-merchant
became one of the town's most important privileges, and practically everyone in
trade at first belonged to it, not only merchants and craftsmen, but even
apprentices, women and strangers. At Leicester men of forty different occupations
were enrolled in it, and the Trinity guild at Coventry boasted of even Henry IV and
Henry VI among its famous members.
 The merchant played an important part in developing the constitution of the town,
for as we might expect in a society which included all the best business brains in
the community, the guild was very well organized. It drew up rules for itself called
ordinances, elected its yearly officers, headed by a master and wardens, held
regular meetings, exacted entrance fees, fines and yearly subscriptions from its
members, and kept careful accounts. When it grew rich a charter was obtained
from the king that the guild might be recognized as a property-owner, a guildhall
was built, and money was lent to the town. Gradually the same men began to
control both guild and town affairs, through their organization.
 The Guilds were deeply involved with religious and charitable works, organising the
pageants and processions it was their duty to provide on certain great festivals
such as the Feast of Corpus Christi and of their patron saints, whilst supporting
alms-houses, hospitals and schools for guild members and their families
Selected Timeline
MEDIEVAL
TUDOR-STUART
GEORGIAN VICTORIAN
MODERN
St Mary’s Guildhall events
Guild of St Mary
established
1340
St Mary’s
Guildhall
enlarged 13951415
Mary Queen of
Scots held at
Guildhall
1569-70
St Mary’s
Guildhall built
1340-42
14th century
1345 Coventry
granted the
status of a city
and the right to
appoint a mayor
and council
Late 1300s
th
Coventry was 4
largest and
wealthiest city
in England
Tapestry made
1499-1500
Guildhall used
for storing
weapons in
1640s to defend
city during
English Civil War
15th century
1450s Henry VI
moves royal
court to
Coventry during
Wars of the
Roses
16th century
Dissolution of
the monasteries
and disbanding
of the guilds.
Coventry’s first
cathedral
demolished
Guildhall falls
into disuse
except for
occasional civic
events and
musical
performances
Guildhall largely
survives
bombing of
Coventry in
World War II
Your visit
18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century
Coventry
becomes a
centre for
ribbon weaving
Poverty and
hardship for
weavers in
Coventry with
collapse of the
weaving trade
Guildhall’s
stained glass
windows
smashed during
election riots
Guildhall used
for theatrical
performances
17th century
1660s city walls
demolished on
orders of
Charles II
Coventry
becomes a
centre for
manufacture of
bicycles and
watches
Coventry’s cloth
industry
collapses due to
cheaper foreign
imports
Coventry events
New Council
House
completed 1917
City heavily
bombed during
World War II
Coventry
becomes a
major producer
of cars
Regeneration
and redevelopment of
the city centre
Suggested topics for before, during or after your visit
English
St Mary’s Guildhall was a focus for performance from its earliest origins, whether in the
form of music played at banquets, ‘mystery plays’ performed at medieval banquets, or as
a stage for Shakespeare and those who performed his works. The Guildhall was also an
inspiration to the writer George Elliot, whilst the story of Lady Godiva inspired poetry by
Lord Tennyson and artworks including paintings and statues, examples of which can be
seen at the Guildhall
 Pupils could write their own story or poem inspired by the building, or something
seen during their visit
 Pupils could research the cycle of mystery plays and create their own play
Art and History
The history of St Mary’s Guildhall is rich and varied, with episodes that reflect historical
events in a local and national context, including the Wars of the Roses, the Dissolution of
the Monasteries and the English Civil War. A number of historical themes can also be
explored on a visit
 Use the features of the building, or clothes worn in the tapestries and paintings to
discuss how wealth and status is displayed in art and architecture. How would this
building differ from the houses of ordinary people? How would the clothes of
wealthy guild members differ from the cooks and servants?
 Before the bombing raids of the Second World War, the precious stained glass
windows, carvings, paintings and tapestry were all removed from the Guildhall for
safekeeping. Pupils can consider what they would treasure and remove for
safekeeping from their home, and why
Geography
The centre of Coventry is on a small hill, and the Guildhall’s hilltop position was very
significant on a spiritual, social and practical level. Sharing the hilltop site were the
churches of St Michael’s, Holy Trinity and the Priory of St Mary’s, and being so close to
these religious houses made the guild members feel even closer to God. In turn the
people of Coventry also regarded the hilltop as where the most important buildings were
located, which gave the guild members prestige and status. On a practical level, the
hilltop was above the smells and grime of the crowded city below, and the buildings here
had access to much cleaner water supplies.
 Pupils can use a map to identify the hilltop and see which buildings occupy the
area today
The guild members traded cloth not just with the people of Coventry, but also with
customers elsewhere in England and Europe, especially the Netherlands. Goods destined
for overseas were normally taken to docks at Gloucester or Bristol (where Guild members
had special discounts on storage facilities), and then on to the continent
 In an age before aircraft, trains or even canals, how do pupils think the guild
members would have got their goods from Coventry across the country. Use maps
to plot the journey
Mathematics
Planning and preparing for a grand medieval banquet was a very responsible and difficult
task. Prepare too much and you waste what could have been saved for another meal.
Prepare too little and the guests will be offended by the small portions offered, or late
comers will find nothing left.
Pupils can be put in the place of a medieval cook, and use mathematics to calculate a
series of mathematical problems including
 budgeting - the total cost of purchases for a particular recipe, for a given number
of guests, at a given market cost of produce
 portion control – how many guests a given quantity of produce will feed according
to a recipe
 spatial awareness – using the dimensions of the hall work out how many guests
can be seated based on given sizes of chairs and tables
www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk 024 7683 3328