Guildford House is a historic house at 155 High Street,
Guildford,
Surrey,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. Built in 1660, it is currently a municipal museum and art gallery.
History
Originally built for John Childs, a lawyer and, later, Mayor of Guildford on three occasions. In 1726, it was bought by John Martyr, also a lawyer, and remained in the family until 1850, when it was bought by Frank Apted as a shop for his brush and carpentry business. From 1914 to 1928, it was a stationers and booksellers. After a year as the carpet department of the adjoining drapers store, in 1929, it was converted into a restaurant which operated until 1956.
The house is a
Grade I listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
in part for having many original features including a carved staircase, panelled rooms, original decorative plaster ceilings and wrought iron window fittings. Also for its timber-framed basic structure, which is clad to the front in painted wood and to the rear in mathematical tiles and tile-hanging.
Today
The house contains some of
Guildford borough's art collection including the world's largest public collection of
pastel portraits by Guildford-born artist,
John Russell, RA (1745–1806). Guildford House hosts changing exhibitions throughout the year. In June 2009, the administration of Guildford House, with
Guildford Museum,
Guildford Guildhall
The Guildford Guildhall is a Guildhall located on the High Street of the town of Guildford, Surrey. It is a Grade I listed building.
History
The Guildhall, which was initially used as a courtroom, was built around 1550. It was substantially ...
and
Guildford Castle
Guildford Castle is in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is thought to have been built by William the Conqueror, or one of his barons, shortly after the 1066 invasion of England.
History From the eleventh to the thirteenth century Construction an ...
were brought together and run collectively as 'Guildford Heritage'.
File:Guildford astrolabe.jpg, Astrolabe by Richard Quinnel in the courtyard
References
External links
Guildford House Gallery- official site at Guildford Borough
{{Guildford
Houses in Surrey
Grade I listed buildings in Surrey
Art museums and galleries in Surrey
Museums in Surrey
Buildings and structures in Guildford