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