Poole Guildhall - and its many lives over the years
By Janette Marsh, Poole Maritime History
From bustling markets and grand bazaars to wartime bathhouses and royal visits, Poole Guildhall has stood at the heart of town life for centuries. Its walls hold some of the most fascinating stories in Poole’s history…
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Poole Guildhall - dating from 1248!
Poole has had three Guildhalls since the granting of the Longspee Charter in 1248. The first in the Old Town House (Scaplen’s Court). The Upper Hall was the meeting place of the City Fathers until 1572. Poole’s second Guildhall was built in 1572 and cost £58. It was in Fish Street. The Guildhall was on the upper floor and the town prison was on the ground floor. This building was demolished in the early nineteenth century. The third Guildhall was built in 1761 and is the building we see today.
The building cost £2250 – £1500 of which was underwritten by Joseph Gulston and Thomas Calcraft and the rest by public subscription. Joseph Gulston and Thomas Calcraft were both Poole MPs. The building reflects Poole’s economic prosperity in the eighteenth century due to its Atlantic and Mediterranean trade.
There were ten open arcades along each side known as Shambles. A meat market was held here on Mondays and Thursday. They were also used as a vegetable market. Later the arcades were closed in and became butcher’s shops.
From elections, local meetings and entertainment!
Town council meetings were held in the Guildhall as were courts. The Guildhall was also used during elections – for counting the votes and the declaration of the winners. Public meetings were held in the Guildhall and society meetings such as the Bible Society, YMCA, National Lifeboat Association, Dorset County Football Association and Freemasons.
From 1819-1821 the Guildhall was consecrated and used as the local church whilst St James Church was rebuilt.
Balls and Bazaars were held in the Guildhall including on 5th January 1905 a visit to the YWCA Bazaar by HRH Princess Henry of Battenburg. The local newspapers advertised concerts and entertainments held in the Guildhall e.g. Hoffman’s Organphonic Band with Mr Thurton’s Ventriloquism in August 1854!
1854 Exhibition of Industry and Art
From 19th August 1854 the Poole Exhibition of Industry and Art was held in the Guildhall. It was opened by Lt Col Waugh of Brownsea Island. In the exhibition catalogue there are local businesses – Miss Frost, Milliner; J Hayman & Co, brush manufacturers; R Sydenham, bookseller; George Green, confectioner and many others.
Some of the more unusual exhibits included a model ship of war (made from bone by prisoners in Poole Gaol); a stuffed albatross; a case of artificial teeth and Lord Nelson’s knife and fork as well as examples of needlework and paintings. At intervals during the day a selection of music was played. The exhibition was very successful and was extended by a week until the 2nd September.
Local scandal and murder!
In 1886 a scandal occurred when local councillor, Horatio Hamilton was murdered by John King after a dispute over a licence for his late father’s pilot boat. King waylaid Horatio Hamilton after a council meeting and fatally shot him. There is allegedly the mark of a bullet on the north east corner of the Guildhall. King was found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang which was commuted and he served his sentence in Broadmoor.
Art College to Museum!
After the war Poole College Art Department took over the building until 1957. From 1957 until 1972 the building remained empty. In 1972 Poole Museum took over the building, moving from the building in South Road (now Lord Wimborne pub).
The renovations cost £60,000. The Museum was opened by Professor Barry Cunliffe on 18th May 1972 – however the public were not happy because it didn’t show enough Poole history and they felt their entrance fee should be returned! The curator, Mr Dockerill replied that “he was not going to have the building cluttered up with a vast assortment of ancient relics”! The museum did survive until 1992 when it moved to its present location.
Register Office
Between 1992 and 2007 the building was once again unused. There were various suggestions for its use – a community centre, Poole Arts Council wanted a gallery with restaurant and cybercafe and Poole Pottery wanted a museum and studio. None of these came to fruition and in 2004 the Guildhall was put on Historic England’s “At Risk Register”.
Finally in 2007 it was opened by Princess Anne as the Register Office. The renovation cost £80,000 and the difficulties overcome included putting a lift into an historic building and the provision of a strong room for the safe storage of records. The Register Office now conducts over 300 weddings a year.
In 2019 the last meeting of Poole Council was held here and in 2022 the Proclamation of King Charles III was made from the Guildhall steps by Poole Town Crier, David Squire.
About Poole Maritime Trust
Poole Maritime Trust is based above Canford Cliffs Library, where we have been since the 1970s.
Our headquarters houses extensive collections, including over 6,000 photographs and images, more than 3,000 books on boats and the local area, and a wealth of information on historic and modern maritime life. We also display models of sailing ships, paddle steamers, tugs, working boats and yachts, alongside 300+ archive files covering 19th- and 20th-century marine work, local boatyards and yacht clubs.
We would be delighted to share this fascinating local heritage with you. Join us for tea, coffee and biscuits on Thursdays, 10am–12 noon, or the first Saturday of each month, 10am–12 noon.
The entrance is on the free car park side of the library. Follow the sign behind the new conservatory to our front door and upstairs.
Visit our website: www.poolemaritimetrust.org
We look forward to welcoming you!
