THE JOINERS HALL

It is recorded that by 1500 the Company owned land in Thames street. A Hall was built between 1518 and 1551 but this was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. History then records that the Hall was rebuilt and destroyed or badly damaged several times between 1680 and 1811.

Thereafter it was rebuilt as a warehouse to produce income, and used until destroyed by enemy action in 1940. It was acquired by the City Corporation in 1951 as part of a post war site acquisition for redevelopment. The layout of the Hall is shown below, and a line drawing, the only one we have still in our possession is of the entrance porch to the Hall show the entrance in 1670 ( APPX C) .

It was in the Hall that the Painting showing the then Joiners Court of Assistants inspecting the plans for the new Hall. It is now hanging in the Guildhall offices, London, on permanent loan to the Corporation.

By 1799 in minutes of the Court dated December 12th state " All the ornaments, property and effect in the Hall to be sold, excepting the silver cup and cover, the painting over the fireplace, the colors, the Masters carved Chair” ( now in the Victoria and Albert Museum)” [pictures here] poor box, hammer, beadle’s staff and four spoons, with the dates named, the painting to be delivered to the Chamberlain Clerk to take care for the Company" It seems that by this time in view of the impoverished state of the Company’s finances the Company had no option but to let the Hall as a warehouse and sell its contents.

The following is an extract from the lease of 1804 which illustrates both the layout and contents of the building at that time ( appendix A-B ) By 1806 the Hall was in such a dangerous condition that the Lease Mr. Cookson had cause to complain but after it was destroyed by fire in 1811, He agreed to rebuild in 1812 as a warehouse which it remained until being destroyed by enemy action in the Second World War.

The site in Upper Thames Street is now marked with a plaque

The site of the Old Joiners Hall in Upper Thames Street as it exists in 2007 and the entrance as it was when extant date unknown