The Guildhall Museum

(See also Carlisle)

The Guildhall Museum is housed in an interesting medieval building.
The building is the result of a 1382 fire that destroyed much of Carlisle. Because of the fire a waste tenement site became available for building on and was turned into a home in 1407 by Richard of Redeness. When he died he left his home to Carlisle, and it became the Guildhall for the city's trade guilds.

Its timber-framed construction is infilled with thin medieval tile bricks. The internal walls are made of interwoven twigs with a covering of clay. Each floor projects out over the one beneath, a way of using less ground to create a larger home. In 1844 and 1935 repairs were undertaken.

Each room in the museum has its own focus representing Carlisle's eight trade guilds: shoemakers, butchers, merchants, skinners and glovers, smiths, tailors, tanners, and weavers. Objects relating to each guild history are on display. The silver room is especially interesting with two 1599 silver bells among its collection. An ironbound muniment chest, medieval measures, pottery, a weaver's banner, and stocks are some items in the collections.

Guildhall Museum
The Green Market
Carlisle
Tel. 01228 625400
Open Good Friday-end Sept, Thur-Sun, 1-4pm

Photos courtesy of Julian Thurgood

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