Windsor Landmarks

Windsor Guildhall is a hand carved, hand pressed Linocut print limited to 150 editions.

Windsor Guildhall was built during the reign of William III and Mary II (1689-1694) and is a Grade I listed building situated along from Windsor Castle. It was designed by architect Sir Thomas Fitz and its erection began in 1687, but upon his death in 1689 was taken over and completed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Originally designed as a building where merchants, traders, magistrates, mayors and other officials would have met, the pillared area at the front originally allowed for corn markets to take place under cover. Local legend has it that Wren was requested to add further columns to support the weight of the building but, believing they were unnecessary, he made them slightly short so that they do not quite touch the ceiling. There are doubts over the historical validity of this, but why let the truth get in the way of a good story!

The Council Chamber is resplendent with portraits of monarchs from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, and was used as a courtroom from 1690 until as recently as 1971, but Windsor Guildhall is now primarily used as a wedding venue. Most notable of these might be Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Camilla Parker Bowles on 9th April 2005; but it was also was used as the venue for one of the first same sex civil partnership ceremonies in England on the first day they became legal - that of local residents, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, on 21st December 2005 (although both these marriage ceremonies actually took place in the adjoining Ascot Room rather than the Council Chamber).