Visitors to Northampton Guildhall will be transported back to 1865 this September, as historic characters bring the building’s fascinating past to life as part of Heritage Open Days.
Northampton Town Council is inviting residents and visitors to step inside one of the town’s most iconic buildings and experience its history like never before, with a series of free, live historical re-enactments taking place on Saturday, 19 September.
Special ‘From Courtroom to Council Chamber: Stories of the Guildhall from 1865’ tours will take visitors on a journey through the magnificent Guildhall, with local actors from The Mystery Tours bringing the building and its former occupants to life.
The one-hour tours will begin in the Great Hall, where visitors will sign up before being taken through a series of historic locations.
The journey will include the Court Room, where visitors will witness a live historic court taking place, before heading to the Mayor’s Parlour to meet current Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Mike Hallam, and then through the Mayor’s Corridor and Great Hall Corridor.
The tour will then arrive at the Council Chamber, where visitors will have the chance to witness a council meeting from 1865 being re-enacted, before taking a look inside the Godwin Room and finishing outside the Guildhall, where the building’s distinctive stone carvings will be explained.
Cllr Les Marriott, Leader of Northampton Town Council, said: “Northampton has an incredibly rich heritage, and the Guildhall is one of the finest examples of that history right at the heart of our town.
“Heritage is something we have a responsibility to protect and invest in, but it is equally important that people have the opportunity to experience it and understand the stories behind these remarkable buildings.
“These tours are a fantastic way of doing that. Rather than simply walking around and looking at the architecture, visitors will be able to step back into 1865 and see the Court Room and Council Chamber brought to life.”
The event forms part of this year’s Heritage Open Days, whose theme is Everyday Histories, and provides a unique opportunity to explore parts of the Guildhall while discovering how the building has been used by the people of Northampton for generations.
Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Mike Hallam, said: “The Guildhall has witnessed so much of Northampton’s history, but it can be difficult to imagine what actually happened behind these doors more than 160 years ago. Seeing a Victorian court case and a council meeting recreated in the rooms where these things actually took place will give people a real sense of what life was like.
“It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet people who may never have visited the Guildhall before and share a little of its story. Our heritage belongs to all of us, and events like this help make that history engaging and relevant to today’s communities.”
Cllr Kamala Guliyeva, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful historic buildings across West Northamptonshire, and Heritage Open Days gives people a fantastic opportunity to explore them and discover the stories behind them.
“Northampton Guildhall is a great example of our rich heritage, and this event will bring its history to life in an engaging and memorable way for visitors of all ages.”
The free tours will take place every half hour from 11am until 2.30pm on Saturday, 19 September.
Places are available on a first come, first served basis, with visitors signing up in the Great Hall. There is no charge to take part.
The event is being delivered by Northampton Town Council in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council, with local actors from The Mystery Tours providing the historical re-enactments alongside Town Council staff, councillors and volunteers.
For further information about Heritage Open Days and events taking place across Northampton, visit www.northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/heritage-open-days.
