Construction of our present Guildhall, designed by prominent local architect John Guy Ferguson, began in 1887 costing £19,000 (now = £1.5 million). Named from its connection to London’s merchant guilds, it was funded by The Honourable The Irish Society, oldest sub-committee of the City of London Corporation, and officially opened in 1890 by Londonderry Corporation.

During its 136 years our Guildhall has been destroyed twice.

On Easter Sunday 19 April 1908 a disastrous fire gutted it, leaving only the clock tower and walls - so badly destroyed partly due to inadequate water supply for the fire brigade. Matthew Robinson, the City Surveyor, Engineer and Architect, re-designed it with today’s much grander facade.

Twice in June 1972 bombs placed inside it caused huge damage. For five years Derry City Council used temporary buildings at 19 Limavady Road, where Oakgrove Integrated Primary School now stands.

The Original Guildhall 1887-1908; The renewed Guildhall 1908-present.

placeholder image — The Original Guildhall 1887-1908; The renewed Guildhall 1908-present.

This grand grade ‘A’ listed building has 23 stained glass windows, many gifted by London guilds, illustrating Derry’s story from the 1600s.

Its organ in the Main Hall, with 3,132 pipes, is the second largest in Northern Ireland; and the Guildhall Clock is said to be the largest of its type in Ireland - designed as a replica of London’s ‘Big Ben’.

“Why are the cannons on the Walls pointed at the Guildhall?” asked a visitor. Well, during the 17th century sieges, outside Shipquay Gate lay only a small shore and jetty - hence the Guildhall’s street address of ‘Shipquay Place’. But everybody calls it ‘Guildhall Square’.