This photograph of the Guildhall was taken in 1904, during the removal of the clock tower or cupola that had been part of the original design when the building was erected in 1825. In those days apparently, a long wooden ladder and scaffolding without platforms or protective sides were all that the construction workers had between the roof and the hard ground.

It is believed to be Andover’s fourth guildhall. Early 16th century accounts for repairs to the ‘yeldehall’ as well as rents received for the various shops under the first floor prove the existence of an early hall but perhaps not exactly on this site. A second guildhall replaced the first in 1582 and again the location is not definite but at the head of the High Street seems to be a likely place. By this time the development of the market place in the lower High Street area was well-established and the wide area to the north, with the surround of houses, inns and shops provided the most natural spot.

Perhaps, it was not of the soundest construction as it was in need of frequent repairs: within the first forty years, the clock turret, the windows and a new market bell were all parts that

needed to be replaced and with increasing prosperity in the 18th century it was decided by 1724 to build yet another Guildhall.

The new building cost £1747 and was in the fashionable Georgian style, built of bricks, a tiled roof and a wooden cupola on the top that contained a clock and a market bell. Beneath the clock tower was a painted sundial - so two methods of reading the time. It was paid for, partly by subscription and partly by loans.

This third Guildhall lasted exactly 100 years. It was enlarged in 1750 but as before, it needed constant repairs, not least because the weight of the chamber above was too much for the pillars below that supported it. It was re-roofed in 1779 but when this also deteriorated and required over £400 to put the whole building right, an expense that the corporation postponed ‘for some future council’, an earlier term for ‘kicking the can down the road’.

By 1824, the Guildhall was deemed to be in such a terrible state that a fourth building was proposed, for which architect John Harris Langdon was engaged. His plans were accepted but the corporation rejected two estimates and decided the whole building should be constructed in Bath stone (presumably a cheaper option from that first proposed). The total cost was £5,307, towards which the two local MPs offered £1000 each, but most of the remainder came from loans. A curious addition is a pressed steel ceiling to the first floor, apparently unsuspected until the major renovations of 1981.

The foundation stone was laid on 3 May 1825 and the new building opened on 8 June, the following year. To celebrate the occasion a grand ball was held with entertainment provided by a ‘superior orchestra and harp’. Additional expenses included a copper weather vane with a lion and oak crest for £25, an 8-day turret clock, bought from George Yonge of the Strand for £84, 12 chandeliers for £200 and a Turkish carpet, together with rosewood card tables, from a gentleman’s club in St James’.

In 200 years, the Guildhall has undergone many changes. Two interior iron pillars were added in 1834 by Tasker’s to strengthen the support of the upper floor, which had been a major problem of the earlier building. The ground floor was enclosed by the addition of windows and doors to the arches in 1856, to become the corn exchange on Fridays. Gas lighting was installed in 1857 but there was no proper heating system until the 1930s, despite plans originally being drawn up in 1891. At £200 they were thought too expensive.

Outside, the flint forecourt was constructed with surrounding iron railings at the same time as the ground floor enclosure. Just in front of the forecourt area, an elaborate lamp standard and drinking fountain was installed in 1887 as a celebration of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. However, this was removed in 1920 to allow space for the cenotaph, itself relocated to St Mary’s churchyard in 1956. The lamp was twice re-installed lower down the street before being removed completely. In 1977, to mark the silver jubilee of the present queen, it was rescued from the council depot and restored to near its original position, though now on the forecourt itself.

Critically, the clock tower on top of the Guildhall had given cause for concern as early as 1848 and by 1904 was leaning 9.5 inches out of perpendicular. The council made a quick decision after the 1904 inspection and the clock tower was removed, with the clock being relocated into the pediment.

Each Guildhall was built as a symbol of pride in the town and the present one is no exception. Restorations notwithstanding, it has ‘lived longer’ than its three predecessors, though of course adapting to the demands of each age in turn. The modern edition of Nicholas Pevsner’s architectural critique describes it as an excellent building of bath stone ashlar, five bays with rusticated arches below in the Palladian way, with Greek Doric columns and a pediment.

It has been used as a court room, a council chamber, a meeting hall, a corn exchange, a soldiers’ rest where meals were served during World War I and of course a public hall for the community where a number of local groups and organisations held periodic events. Many deeply regret the change to commercialism that has seen a succession of restaurants come and go in the dozen years or so, since the town was deprived of its community hall. Perhaps when the present commercial lease of the ground floor runs out, a ‘future council’ may reverse its decision.

Recently the Guildhall has undergone a thorough cleaning of the outside stonework and it is good to see the fine old building looking its best, well-equipped one hopes to last another century or two yet.