Guildhall Welcome Flyer

<strong>Guildhall</strong> Clock Tower<br />

The <strong>Guildhall</strong> Clock, a replica of Big Ben in London,<br />

is a beacon across the city and beyond the river,<br />

anchoring people to a time and place. Its melodious<br />

chimes have been a constant for generations of<br />

those living in Derry-Londonderry, as it was<br />

designed for the bells to ring on the hour and to<br />

chime quarterly. The clock tower, which stands at<br />

144 feet tall, is one of the only parts of the building<br />

that survived the 1908 fire.<br />

Where we are<br />

Tower<br />

Museum<br />

<strong>Guildhall</strong><br />

<strong>Guildhall</strong>,<br />

<strong>Guildhall</strong> Square,<br />

Derry-Londonderry,<br />

BT48 6DQ<br />

T: 028 7137 6510<br />

E: guildhall@derrystrabane.com<br />

guildhallderry.com<br />

@guildhallderry<br />

@guildhallderry<br />

OPENING TIMES<br />

Monday-Friday – 9am – 8pm (last admissions 7pm)<br />

Saturday-Sunday – 9am – 6pm (last admissions 5pm)<br />

ADMISSION - FREE<br />

Guided Tours can be booked in advance - £2.00 pp<br />

Heart of the City

---

Step into the <strong>Guildhall</strong><br />

We warmly welcome you to the <strong>Guildhall</strong>,<br />

in the heart of the city.<br />

You’ll find yourself in another world where<br />

the grandeur of the Victorian era meets the<br />

vibrancy of the 21st century.<br />

Amidst the splendour of this magnificent<br />

building, the <strong>Guildhall</strong> is a living, breathing<br />

hub of activity, welcoming visitors from<br />

around the world for business and leisure<br />

while fulfilling its civic role with the<br />

Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour<br />

housed within its walls.<br />

A brief history of the<br />

<strong>Guildhall</strong><br />

The <strong>Guildhall</strong> sits majestically overlooking the<br />

River Foyle on one side and the City Walls on<br />

the other, central to all civic life in Derry -<br />

Londonderry.<br />

The Grade A listed building, erected in the<br />

1880s in the neo-gothic style by The<br />

Honourable The Irish Society, was named in<br />

honour of the historic link to the City of London<br />

and its guilds. It officially opened in 1890 and<br />

has been rebuilt and restored following a fire in<br />

1908 and two bombings in 1972.<br />

Ulster Plantation Exhibition<br />

Take a journey through the Plantation of Ulster<br />

Exhibition on the ground floor where you can<br />

learn about the colonisation of Ulster during<br />

the reign of King James I in the 17th<br />

Century and the building of our famous city<br />

walls through this fascinating interactive<br />

experience.<br />

Valuable artefacts such as the Great<br />

Parchment Book and local 17th century maps<br />

are on display to bring to life this pivotal period<br />

in both Ireland’s and Britain’s history.<br />

Main Hall & Organ<br />

The Main Hall situated on the first floor hosts everything<br />

from concerts to craft fairs, as well as weddings and<br />

private functions. With two balconies and a roof<br />

constructed of mahogany panels framed with Californian<br />

red wood, its opulence and charm lends itself to any<br />

occasion.<br />

The Main Hall is the perfect setting for the magnificent<br />

century-old organ which was installed by Messer Hill &<br />

Sons in 1914 at a cost of £897. It is still used today for<br />

performances. Also see our time capsule - the items<br />

were contained in a sealed glass jar which dates back to<br />

the laying of the first foundation stone of <strong>Guildhall</strong> on<br />

August 23rd, 1887.<br />

Stained Glass Windows<br />

Throughout the <strong>Guildhall</strong> is an array of stunning stained<br />

glass windows, capturing some of the most important<br />

moments in the history of Derry- Londonderry, as well<br />

as iconic landmarks in the cityscape.<br />

Mayor’s Parlour and<br />

Council Chamber<br />

When the <strong>Guildhall</strong> opened in 1890, it was the<br />

administrative centre for Londonderry Corporation. More<br />

than a century on, it still retains its civic function and is<br />

home to Derry City and Strabane District Council<br />

Chamber on the first floor and the Mayor’s Parlour on<br />

the ground floor. It is the only surviving <strong>Guildhall</strong> still in<br />

civic use in Ireland.