Wedding Ceremonies in the Ancient Court Room
Adapted for the web from original photo by David Fenwick
The 16th century Court Room is available as a venue for your Civil Marriage or Partnership Ceremony and can accommodate up to 60 wedding guests.
Silk flower arramgements can be provided free of charge in the Court Room should you choose not to provide your own flower arrangements.
Equipment is also available free of charge for playing secular music during the ceremony.
The Guildhall staff will be happy to arrange for you to view the Court Room and assist in any way they can with your wedding or other ceremony requirements.
For full details please Contact Us.
Brief History of the Guildhall Court Room
The Guildhall, including the Court Room, dates back to 1579 and has many interesting architectural and historical features. The modern annexe was added in 1973.
Queen Elizabeth the First was in Sandwich in 1573 and there is a stained glass window in the oak panelled Court Room depicting her reception at Sandown Gate.
In the beginning the Court Room was the Cinque Port equivalent of the Old Bailey Assizes, and until 1952, Quarter Sessions were held here.
There are portraits in the Court Room of Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York (later to become James II), the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The halberds (pikestaffs) hanging from the ceiling beams are relics of the Cinque Ports Fleet and were always carried before judges of the Assizes. The Police continued this custom up to 1951.