HISTORY

The history of the Guildhall dates back to circa 1390, when a Great Hall was built here as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi, a religious organisation of monks. Additions were made later to the Great Hall, which allowed for priests to live here as they prayed and gave mass in the adjacent Leicester Cathedral (then called St Martin's Church). The Corporation of Leicester bought the Guildhall in the early 15th Century, but continued to let the monks and priests use the building. During this Late Medieval period, many banquets, gatherings and festivities took place in the Great Hall, with good music, laughter, conversations and dances.

In the late Elizabethan period, it's strongly believed that famous playwright William Shakespeare visited the Guildhall, and possibly even performed one his plays in the Great Hall. There is also a story that says William Shakespeare first heard the tale of King Leir during his visit at the Guildhall, and it this that inspired him to write his own play, 'King Lear'. There is also a record in 1588 that describes the Mayor of Leicester using the Guildhall for a feast in celebration of defeating the Spanish Armada. In result of this defeat, weapons and armour were kept in the building in readiness for a possible invasion. The Guildhall Library was established in 1632, when the town library moved to the east wing of the building, and features many historic books and religious texts, including a large King James I Bible on a banquet table.

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During the English Civil War, many important meetings and key decisions took place in this building, which would go on to affect the future of Leicester. On the 29th May 1645, King Charles I positioned an army of 6,000 men outside the city walls, led by his nephew Prince Rupert, in an attempt to divert attention away from Oxford. The following day, the Royalist Army made demand-after-demand for money from the city to fund his War, but Leicester didn't give in to them. Later that Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Prince Rupert's men attacked. The city walls were breached and the last stand made by the defenders took place outside of the Guildhall and St Martins Church. The Royalists then stormed the Guildhall and looted the town's archives, mace and seal.

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While the Royalists celebrated this victory, it would only take a mere two weeks later when the Royalists suffered defeat at the Battle of Naseby. The coat of arms of King Charles I can still be seen inside the Mayor's Parlour, and there are even records that show entertainment expenses such as wine and beer paid for by one Oliver Cromwell. Despite this not proving Cromwell stayed at the Guildhall, this does potentially indicate that he visited the building several times, with one account stating he held a thanksgiving dinner to celebrate.

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In 1836, Leicester's first police force was stationed in the Guildhall, and the Corporation of Leicester moved its headquarters to the new Leicester Town Hall in 1876. The Guildhall was later used as a school too, but by the 1920s, the building became increasingly dilapidated and was planned for the demolition. However, after intervention from the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, the Council began restoration work on the building. In 1926, the building was restored and was opened up as a public museum.

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In September 2012 during an excavation near the Guildhall to find the lost Greyfriars Friary, a skeleton was discovered underneath the Greyfriars Car Park, with a crooked spine, a metal arrow in the back and a blow to the skull. Believed to possibly be Richard III, the body went through DNA analysis. On the 4th February 2013, a press conference was held at Leicester Guildhall, where it was confirmed and announced that archaeologists had indeed discovered the lost remains of one of England's most notorious and political Medieval monarchs, King Richard III.

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GHOSTS & HAUNTINGS

There are five main ghosts that haunt Leicester Guildhall, with other accounts of paranormal activity happening here.

The first of which is that of a Medieval Monk. He is believed to have lived here as part of the Corpus Christi Guild during the late 14th Century. His apparition is often seen in the Library, where he slowly walks across the room and stops, standing in front of the opened King James I Bible. When the Bible is closed at the end of the day, staff have reported coming into the building the next morning and seeing the Bible back open again.

The second ghost is that of a White Lady, who also frequently walks around the Library. Although no one knows who this lady is, her ghost is frequently seen at the Guildhall, where she moves the Tudor furniture around room, and opens doors despite being locked and bolted.

The image of a Cavalier soldier has been seen pacing around in the Great Hall, and it's this same room where loud footsteps, bangs and light anomalies are often heard and witnessed. Visualisations of large crowds, laughter and talking is also sensed in this room by sensitives and mediums, feeling as if they should join in on the fun.

Two animal ghosts are said to haunt the Guildhall too. The first is of a Black Cat that runs up and down the wooden stairs in the Great Hall, almost tripping up visitors and staff when its energy manifests. On a previous investigation, a teddy bear placed at the top of these stairs was knocked over by an unseen force. Was this the Black Cat? The second is of a Black Dog that apparently guards the Courtyard area, barking at those who it deems to be a threat. Will you sense these two animal spirits on the night?

And lastly in the Victorian Police Cells, heavy boot footsteps can be heard from the ceiling above, and when followed, they seem to stop above the Main Entrance, where the former Constable's Cottage used to be. It's also in this area where deep male groans and voices are heard in people's ears, with sensations of being touched on the head and back. Guests have also felt sick and nauseated when down here.

 

YOUR GHOST HUNT EXPERIENCE