John Carpenter Street


Foundation stone

The Foundation stone, laid 21 July 1885

The first Guildhall School premises were at an old warehouse in Aldermanbury where 62 students enrolled for the first term on Monday 27 September 1880. The new Music School was an enormous success, providing expert teaching at an affordable price. So much so that by 1882, only 2 years after opening, the Guildhall School already faced a problem with a lack of space! Indeed, during the 6 years that the Guildhall School was based at Aldermanbury attendance more than quadrupled. Negotiations to improve the facilities on offer by the Guildhall School continued for some years before a solution was found - a new building.

Building at John Carpenter Street

The Guildhall School, John Carpenter Street

The new building was completed by 9 December 1886 and the then Lord Mayor of London, Sir Reginald Hanson attended the opening ceremony. Teaching continued under the first Principal of the School, Thomas Henry Weist Hill and his team of 90 professors.

The new site, designed by architect Sir Horace Jones, comprised a Common Room for Professors and 45 studios, each surrounded by a 1 one foot thick layer of concrete to 'deaden the sound'. Each room contained both a grand piano and an upright piano. Additionally, there was an Organ room and a 'Practice' room, in reality a small concert hall which was used for orchestral and choir rehearsals. The 'Practice' room was also the venue for the fortnightly School concerts.

Plaque at John Carpenter Street

Plaque above the entrance to John Carpenter Street

The Guildhall School remained at the site in John Carpenter Street until April 1977 when the move to the new buildings in the Barbican Arts complex happened