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The name Yelde Hall is an old form of Guidhall, and it is probable
that there was an administrative building of some sort in Chippenham
from the time of the town’s founding. The existing building
appears to have been in use at the time of Queen Mary’s Charter
to the town in May 1554, since that document referred to ‘a
certain Hall or House within the Borough  called
the Yelde Hall’. An earlier hall may well have occupied the
site, and a small part of the current building is thought to date
back to the early to mid 14th century. The Hall’s position
in the Market Place and the Shambles led to it becoming surrounded
by shops and stalls from the later 16th century. The last of these
shops, a hairdresser’s and an auctioneer’s, were demolished
in 1960.
It is probable that the Yelde Hall had been a municipal building
from the start, fulfilling a number of official roles within the
town, not only as a meeting place for the bailiff and burgesses
but also as a place for dispensing justice. The Lord of the Manor
held his court there, and the building occasionally hosted the county’s
quarter sessions. The room below the council chamber was used as
the town lock-up, for holding drunks overnight and for housing prisoners
en route to the county gaol at Fisherton Anger (Salisbury) or to
be tried at the quarter sessions in other towns. Elections were
also held in the building, with the Town Clerk subsequently publishing
lists of all the electors who voted for each candidate.
As well as dealing with local administrative and legal matters the
town’s dignitaries would have discussed the wider political
issues of the day. Thus, successive bailiffs and burgesses, mayors,
aldermen and councillors would have expressed their opinions on
the local impact of national events. One can imagine the lively
debates at the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century), and
then the reactions to Henry VIII’s Reformation of the Church
(16th century). Later, the English Civil Wars and the Restoration
of Charles II, and then the Glorious Revolution that put William
III on the throne in place of James II, would have provoked individuals
into taking sides (17th century). The actions of the Hanovarian
dynasty (18th and 19th centuries) would have doubtless triggered
considerable discussion - especially the loss of America, and then
the Napoleonic Wars. One of the last decisions the councillors made
in the old council chamber was to send a letter of congratulations
to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the birth of the heir to
the throne in 1841.
Council business transferred to the newly erected Neeld Hall during
the 1840s and other uses were found for the Yelde Hall. From 1864
the Chippenham Company of Volunteers was allowed to use the north-west
end of the building, including the council chamber, as an armoury.
The Fire Brigade had use of the other end of the building from around
1870. When the Chippenham Volunteers moved to the Little Ivy in
1911 the Fire Brigade took over the whole building. They retained
possession of it until the end of World War 2, relocating to Dallas
Road in 1946. After considerable debate about its future, the Hall
became the Town Museum in 1963. When the success of the Museum resulted
in it moving to larger premises in 2000 the Hall was left empty
again. It underwent a complete restoration and conservation, and
then became home to the Tourist Information Centre in 2003.
Historic Council Chamber at the Yelde Hall
In December 2006 the historic Council Chamber was re-opened to the
public. Visitors can be transported back to 1816 to experience
a lively Council meeting debating the end of the Napoleonic War
and the decline of the weaving trade.
The Chamber is brought to life using the latest lighting and audio
technology with five life sized mannequins representing the Bailiff,
Town Clerk, a Burgess, a Cleric and a Town’s Woman, all in
authentic Regency style dress.
Those not able to access the first floor can still experience this
exciting slice of history. Thanks to a unique audio and viewing
kiosk situated on the ground floor, specially designed for the Yelde
Hall, visitors can view the Chamber in real time and listen to the
debate.
Opening Times: Mon - Fri. 9.30am - 4.15pm. Sat - 9.30am - 2.45pm
All Bank Holidays except Christmas.
Admission Free • Kiosk on first floor for disabled access
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