Guildford House was built in 1660 for John Childe, who was three times Mayor of Guildford. It was the residence of the Martyr family for a century from 1736 and from the mid 1840s became a business premises. It opened as Guildford's Art Gallery in 1959.

The Attic Rooms are sometimes used for temporary exhibitions, and can be seen by the public each year on Heritage Open Day.

The Powell Room features a magnificent plaster ceiling and a fine wrought iron balcony overlooking the High Street.

Other rooms retain the original panelling and some pieces of period furniture. The leaded windows have original decorative catches.

  

The ornately carved oak and elm staircase rises through the house. The restoration period is reflected in the urns of fruit and flowers and the flowering acanthus leaves in the panels.

During the occupancy of the House by the Childes and the Martyrs it was mainly a family dwelling, but the pressure of trade on the High Street made inevitable the conversion of 25 High Street (as it was then) into a shop and by 1844 the facade had been slightly altered by the removal of an ironwokr balustrade, and the enlargement of the ground floor windows. From 1850-1878, Frank Apted carried on his brush and turnery business, until this was amalgamated with Mr Bull's saddlers and tent-makers's business, which extended over the outbuildings and the garden.  Bull's relinquished the High Street shop in 1914, and from then until 1928 it was a stationer's and bookseller's, first under A.C. Curtis and then under William Goddard Clark.

For a few months in 1927-27 Simpson's who carried on a drapery business next door on the site of the Crown Inn, extended their business, redecorated the house, and opened it as a carpet department. From 1929-1956 it was known firstly as Lamberts Tea Room and Grill Room and later as Nuthall's Cafe, still well remembered by local residents.

Address:155 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3AJ
Tel: 01483 444742
Email: guildfordhouse@guildford.gov.uk