Saltash Guildhall

Things to do · Saltash

About Saltash Guildhall

Saltash Guildhall is the Grade II listed neoclassical building on Lower Fore Street that has served as the town's civic centre for nearly two and a half centuries. It was rebuilt in brick and masonry between 1775 and 1780 on the site of a sixteenth century market house, with an open arcaded ground floor on Doric columns and an assembly hall known as the Long Room above. The borough council moved in during 1841, and over the following decades the ground floor arcade was gradually filled in: a soup kitchen occupied the west end from 1888, a fire station the east end from 1903, and the central section was enclosed in 1910. The roof and north wall were repaired in 1925, and a full restoration with Heritage Lottery Fund support followed in 1998. Since local government reorganisation in 1974 the building has housed Saltash Town Council, whose offices here are open to the public on weekday mornings and afternoons, and it was the launch point for the Saltash Blue Plaque Trail in 2016. The council also lets rooms for hire and provides tourist information. A look at the exterior takes a few minutes; it suits visitors starting the heritage trail or needing local information before exploring the old town and waterfront.

Good to know

• Grade II listed, designated 1952 (Historic England 1140371)
• Rebuilt 1775 to 1780 as an arcaded market house with the Long Room assembly hall above
• Borough council headquarters from 1841; ground floor later held a soup kitchen (1888) and fire station (1903)
• Restored in 1998 with Heritage Lottery Fund support
• Home of Saltash Town Council; Saltash Blue Plaque Trail launched here in 2016

Address: The Guildhall, Lower Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6JX.

Official site: Saltash Guildhall website.