Grocers' Hall

Venue Type & Location

Guildhall

Site Name: Grocers' Hall
Location: London
County: London (city-county)
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location

Overview

The original hall was comprised of a friary and subordinate buildings: a buttery, pantry, cellar, parlour, chamber, kitchen, tower/turret, clerk's residence and offices, as well as a garden, and a set of almshouses (Herbert, History 341-2). The 20th c. hall incorporating part of the 19th c. facade is located off Princes Street.

Performance History

Two performances by the King's Players are recorded in the early 16th c.

Current Status

The modern hall continues in use on the site of the original.

History of the Venue

1345-6 The first meetings known were held at the abbot of Bury's town house in the parish of St Mary Axe.

1348 Meetings held at Ryngdehall, near Garlickhythe.

1349-83 Meetings held at the hotel of the abbot of St Cross.

1411 Grocers purchased the chapel of the Fratres du Sac, originally a Jewish synagogue in Old Jewry and around the same time the adjoining town house of Lord Fitzwalter.

1427-33 Grocers' Hall built on the site in Coneyhope Lane, Cheap Ward.

1594 The hall was wainscotted.

1631 The great parlour floor boarded; previously it was strewn with rushes.

1666 Roof and interior destroyed in the Great Fire.

1668-9 Restoration of the hall within the original shell began.

1680-2 Hall further renovated and enlarged.

1690-1734 Portions of the building rented to the Bank of England.

1798-1802 Third hall built.

1888 Hall demolished.

1889-93 Fourth hall built.

1965 Most of the hall apart from the facade destroyed in a fire.

1970 Fifth hall built on the same site.

Record Source

REED Civic London to 1558 1.318, 368; 2.441

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. The Buildings of England. 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.
  • Herbert, William. The History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of London. 2. London: The Author, 1836–7.