The upper guildhall was located on part of the site of the present town hall, on the E side of St Aldate's Street (formerly Fish Street), between Blue Boar Street and the High Street. The medieval stone building had a leaded roof, surrounded by battlements.
By the mid-16th c. the lower guildhall, a 2-storey building with a steeply pitched slate roof, ground floor storerooms and upper floor hall, was added to the complex. A council house was added in the late 15th c. at the N side of the guildhall courtyard.
As the seat of civic government and centre for festive occasions, Oxford's upper guildhall was probably the venue for most performances by touring entertainers before the mayor and city officials before 1642. An order by the city council on 17 February 1579/80 prohibited plays in the guildhall, lower guildhall or courtyard without consent of council, thereby indicating that all 3 venues were used.
Demolished except for the medieval crypt beneath the present town hall.
11th c. Built by a community of Jewish financiers and traders who settled in Oxford between Christ Church and the High Street around the time of the Conquest.
early 13th c. Acquired by the king from a Jewish resident named Moses.
1229 Sold to the city's guild merchant for use as a court room.
later 13th c. Substantially repaired or rebuilt.
1323 2 rooms below the hall leased as taverns.
1363 Oratory added.
1474 Council house with a lower floor hall and room below at the NE corner of the upper guildhall was purchased.
1541 The city obtained the lease, and in 1562 the freehold, on the building formerly known as the 'Domus Conversorum' directly to the S, which became the lower guildhall.
16th--17th c. Many alterations made.
1604 Addition of a new window in the lower guildhall court room.
1611 Lower guildhall porch rebuilt to match other shop facades along the street.
1615 New council house built on the site of the medieval council house.
1619 Gallery and a staircase added to the upper guildhall.
1751--2 Upper and lower guildhalls demolished and a single new Georgian town hall, designed in Italian style by Isaac Ware, built. The 17th c. council house was incorporated in the new town hall.
1892--3 18th c. hall demolished.
1897 New building designed by H.T. Hare opened on the site, extended to incorporate the site of the Blue Boar Inn.
REED Oxford 1.97--514
