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Guildhall
Background
The Guildhall was originally built in 1887 by The Honourable The Irish
Society at a cost of £19,000.00 and was officially opened in July
1890. Bombed twice in 1972, the building was refurbished and reopened
in 1977 at a cost of £1.7m. Fashioned in neo gothic style it is
one of the most striking buildings in the northwest. Housed in the Guildhall
are some of the finest examples of stain-glass windows in the whole
of Great Britain. Decorated with Drumfrese sandstone, marble, oak panelling
and ornate ceilings, the Guildhall is the premier tourist attraction
in Derry. A magnificent concert organ, one of the finest in Europe,
is situated in the main hall. The organ was built originally by Messrs
Hill of London at a cost of £837 and is still fully operational.
Today, the Guildhall clock, modelled on Big Ben in London, is the fourth
largest clock in Ireland. Each of the four faces measure 13ft 6in in
diameter and use the Cambridge Quarter and Westminster chime. The Council
Chamber in the Guildhall also facilitates Council and Committee meetings.
The Mayor’s Parlour is where visitors and dignitaries are received
and entertained by the Mayor of the Day.
The Guildhall is a beautiful building and if visiting the city is well
worth taking time to see.
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