The Hall

At the time of the Great Fire the roof and the interior were gutted, leaving only the walls and foundations. The building was restored and embellished with tapestries, stained glass windows, chandeliers and panelling, but in September, 1940, it was hit by a number of incendiary bombs and the Hall with both Galleries, the Western Entrance, the Grand Staircase and the Parlour with the Drawing Room above were destroyed.

Certain important parts of the premises, however, escaped damage. These included the Library with its collection, inter alia, of early books, first editions and other interesting old volumes principally dealing with London; the Court Room, in which the walls are lined with portraits of Past Masters of the Company, and containing over the fire places two carved Coats of Arms representing the Company's original Grant of 1480 and the present Grant of 1586; the Great Kitchen, which has been in continuous use since 1425; and part of the Crypt of the late 14th century Chapel which adjoined the East end of the Hall.

The work of reconstruction could not be started until some years after the end of the war and the Hall itself was opened for use in March, 1959. Although the interior had been gutted, the walls and foundations once again survived and have been incorporated in the restored Hall, which still retains the basic proportions of the previous building although the style of decoration has been radically changed. Prominent features are the mahogany panelling, the stained glass windows containing the Arms of Honorary Freemen and benefactors and the Renatus Harris organ.

The new floor of the Hall is almost at the same level as the parquet floor of 1793, and sections of the three previous floor levels - the 14th century beaten clay floor which was covered with rushes, the red tile floor laid in 1646 and the marble and Purbeck stone floor dated from 1675 - have been preserved and can still be seen in a trap in the floor.

The Company's collection of plates dates mainly from the 17th century as most of their earlier possessions were either sold or melted down during the Civil War to meet the King's demands for money or were destroyed in the Great Fire of London. All that remains from these early days are the Corporate Seal of the Company (about 1502), the Cloth-yard (before 1509), the 16th century Mace and the “Offley” and “Maye” rosewater dishes of 1590 and 1597.