St Mary's Guildhall, Medieval guildhall in Cathedral Quarter, Coventry, England
St Mary's Guildhall is a medieval building in Coventry featuring a grand hall with an elaborate wooden roof and intricate carvings throughout. The interior displays stained glass windows from different periods and decorative woodwork that fills the various rooms.
This building was constructed in the early 14th century and served as a meeting place for merchant guilds operating in the city. It later became a place of refuge for Mary Queen of Scots when she needed shelter during turbulent political times.
The guildhall takes its name from the cloth merchants who ran their affairs here during medieval times. The spacious rooms and fine decorations still reflect how much power and respect these traders held in the community.
The building includes a restaurant serving tea and light refreshments during opening hours that visitors can enjoy on site. The interior spans multiple levels with different rooms to explore, so visitors should allow enough time to see the various spaces.
Renovation work revealed a medieval kitchen with original cooking equipment and storage areas inside the building. This hidden space gives visitors a rare glimpse into the day-to-day activities that took place within the halls centuries ago.
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