Guildhall

Historic Site, Chichester

The Guildhall in Priory Park is the surviving nave of the medieval Greyfriars church, built in the thirteenth century for the Franciscan friars who established a priory on the site. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the building was adapted for civic use and served as the city's court and meeting hall. The poet William Blake was tried for sedition in the Guildhall in 1804, following an altercation with a soldier at Felpham. The building is now used as a venue for exhibitions, concerts, and private events. The interior retains its medieval proportions, with a simple nave and lancet windows. The Guildhall is open to the public during events and on heritage open days.