Guildhall
A 2* Listed Building, the construction of the Guildhall can be traced to March 1761 when the town's MP’s, Joseph Gulston and Lt. Col Thomas Calcraft each promised £750 'to build a Market House therewith' On the 21st July 1761 a special meeting of the Poole Corporation passed the responsibility to the Mayor who approached the project with such speed that the first foundation stones were laid in August 1761.
As well as including the new open 'Market House' (or shambles) at ground floor, still in existence, the building was designed to include Offices for the Poole Corporation and a debating chamber/court room at first floor. The total cost for the project was £2,260.14.0d and required the Mayor to arrange a Mortgage to cover the costs over and above the money donated by the MPs!
The first floor was used for all meetings of the Poole Corporation, and from 1836 for meetings of the new Town Council which then replaced the Poole Corporation. This use continued until 1932 when the new Municipal Buildings were opened. For 150 years the building was also used for the Poole Quarter Sessions, the Poole Court of Record and the Magistrates' Court and until 1835 it was also used for the Poole Court of Admiralty.
During the period 1819 to 1821 the building was consecrated as a Parish Church whilst the old St. James Church was pulled down and the present church erected; for that period it was the only Church of England Church in Poole.
During the Second World War the building was used as a canteen and meeting room for American soldiers prior to the invasion of France. The showers and washing facilities installed at this time were later converted into slipper baths to replace those at the site now occupied by the Salvation Army which were destroyed by a bomb. It is understood that the ground floor of the building was subdivided into a number of cubicles, each containing a single bath. The public use of these was available until the 1960s. At this time the chamber was used for teaching by the Poole College which was at that time based at Sir Peter Thompson House.
In 1971/72 the building was converted for use as the new home for the town museum and at the same time some restoration work was carried out to bring the building closer to its original condition. The new Guildhall Museum was opened on the 18th May 1972. The museum closed in 1991.
Then newly restored Guildhall was opened on 26 June 2007 by the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Jeff Allen and is now home to Registration Services. This attractive Historic building is now a popular venue for weddings, civil partnerships and other civic ceremonies.
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