HISTORY
Shodfriars Hall sits proudly on South Street, joining the Market Place with Custom House Quay. It is a black and white timber framed building, with a Victorian brick extension to the rear.
It is believed that parts of the timber framed structure dates back to the late 14 th century. Having been renovated in the 17th Century and then again as part of the Victorian extension to the rear.
The extension was commissioned by the Boston
Conservative Club and construction took place
between 1873 and 1875. The design was by John
Oldrid Scott and his brother George Gilbert Scott Jnr.
It is important to note the national significance of
these architects and their father, Sir George Gilbert
Scott.
The brothers were known for the restoration works and
ecclesiastical and church projects. Some of the earliest
evidence available gives mention of the building in
rental books serving as the guildhall for the Guild of
Corpus Christi.
Not much is known about the history of the building
prior to the renovation and extension by the Scott
brothers, and a lot of what is believed to have
happened in the building is educated guess work.
The last performance to take place on the stage at
Shodfriars Hall was in 1929. Since then the building has
had various uses, being club rooms, a nightclub,
restaurant and snooker hall. The majority of the
building has been left empty for over 10 years now.
More recently a group of directors from Blackfriars Arts
Centre have commenced a viability study in order to
bring the building back into use. Initial ideas are to
create a multi-purpose events centre.
A project information centre has been opened in the South Street ground floor units (currently closed due to the pandemic) and regular tours of the building are now being offered to those interested in finding out more about the building and the project.
It is hoped the viability study will find a favourable outcome and
the project will move forward. It is important that this important and spectacular building is brought in to use for the local community and people of Boston.
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