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Collection: Fishmongers Hall

Fishmongers' Hall has a fascinating history stretching back centuries! Here are some intriguing facts:

  • Ancient Origins: The first recorded Fishmongers' Hall was built in 1310, serving as the headquarters for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, one of London's oldest livery companies.
  • Great Fire of London: The hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, along with many other historic buildings. A replacement hall was built in 1671.
  • London Bridge Connection: The hall has been rebuilt multiple times, with one version demolished in 1827 to make way for the construction of the new London Bridge.
  • Architectural Legacy: The current hall, designed by Henry Roberts, opened in 1834. His assistant, Sir Gilbert Scott, later became a celebrated architect.
  • Historic Collection: The hall houses a collection of 17th- and 18th-century silver, an embroidered 15th-century funeral pall, and paintings by George Romney and Samuel Scott.
  • Legendary Dagger: It holds a dagger once believed to have been used by Lord Mayor Walworth to kill Wat Tyler during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, though this legend has been debunked.
  • Modern Tragedy: In 2019, Fishmongers' Hall was the site of a terrorist attack, where members of the public heroically fought off the attacker using a pole and a narwhal tusk taken from the hall.