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Drapers' Hall

Venue Type & Location

Guildhall

Overview

The Drapers' Hall is still located on the site of the Tudor Hall on Throgmorton Street. The current Hall is mostly Victorian.

The Hall at St Swithin's Lane comprised a refectory, a great chamber, parlours ('one of them of superior dimensions'), a kitchen,  storehouse, and scalding yard  (Herbert, History 462-3).

 

Performance History

Performances by several troupes are recorded in the early 16th c.

Current Status

The Drapers' Hall remains in use by the Company.

History of the Venue

1385 Drapers purchased property on St Swithin's Lane from John Beauchamp. Beauchamp was subsequently convicted of treason and his lands fortified to the Crown. The Drapers spent many years attempting to regain undisputed rights to the property.

1409 Richard II confirmed the Drapers' right to the land.

1425 First Hall constructed.

1430 The Hall officially occupied by the Drapers who held a feast this year in celebration.

1543 Drapers bought The Erber, formerly Thomas Cromwell's turreted stone residence, in Throgmorton Street. The company agreed to rent out their former Hall in St Swithin's Lane.

1666 Hall destroyed by the Great Fire.

1667-71 Hall rebuilt.

1672-4 An interior fire in the store cellar initiated further reconstruction.

1774 Part of the building, as well as several adjacent houses, destroyed by fire. Subsequently rebuilt, with alterations.

1860s The exterior frontage altered and the interior redecorated.

1898-9 Victorian facade along the street rebuilt and interiors altered.

Record Source

REED Civic London to 1558 1. 328, 339, 349, 371, 379; 2.459, 465, 475, 485, 492, 501, 522, 532, 588, 605, 634

Patrons who owned this venue

[No data found.]

Bibliographic Sources

  • Blackham, Robert J.. The Soul of the City: London's Livery Companies: Their Storied Past Their Living Present. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd., [1930?]
  • Bradley, Simon, and Nikolaus Pevsner. London I: The City of London. London: Penguin Books, 1997
  • Ditchfield, P.H.. The City Companies of London -- And Their Good Works: A Record of Their History, Charity and Treasure. London: J.M. Dent & Co., 1904
  • Girtin, Tom. The Triple Crowns: A narrative history of the Drapers' Company 1364-1964. London: Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1964
  • Herbert, William. The History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of London. 2. London: The Author, 1836--7