Leamington.
In my reply to a Query upon the interesting subject introduced by MR. J.
H. PARKER, I felt anxious to direct his attention to other peculiar
characters appertaining to the ancient town of Wokingham, besides those
marks by which it in some degree approximates to his general description
of the English towns in France. In reply to MR. PARKER'S inquiry
respecting the mediæval town-halls, and other public halls of that
period remaining in England (Vol. v., p. 295.), I have much pleasure in
forwarding the following account of the Town-hall of Leicester, which
formerly belonged to the Guild of Corpus Christi, in the church of St.
Martin. It was built in the reign of Elizabeth, and was first opened by
a banquet, given by George Norris, the mayor, to celebrate the victory
over the Spanish Armada. This anniversary was continued until within the
memory of some of the burgesses now living, and was called the "Venison
Feast." The hall is a low-roofed timber building, lighted by plain
latticed windows, and was enlarged, by the addition of the _Mayor's
parlour_, in 1636. The great hall, or court, is fitted with appropriate
seats of state for the mayor and aldermen, and with galleries for
spectators of municipal ceremonies; and its walls were formerly enriched
with many valuable paintings. The adjoining parlour is remarkable for
the quaint character of its decorations; it is, like the great hall,
provided with state seats or benches, and has a long range of low
windows, containing stained glass illustrative of religious subjects,
and emblems of the seasons. The Town-library is a storied building,
containing a large hall, founded by the Corporation in 1632, and
possessing at present about 1000 volumes, chiefly of old divinity,
together with a few miscellaneous books, and a MS. of the Greek
Testament written on vellum and paper, supposed to be of the thirteenth
century, and which was given to the library in 1649 by the Rector of
Thrussington.
There are hospitals in Leicester of similar style, and two of much
earlier periods, 1330 and 1512.