Guildford House

Guildford House
Guildford House museum and art gallery
Type	Town house
Location	155 High Street, Guildford, Surrey
Coordinates	51°14′10″N 0°34′17″W / 51.236115°N 0.571508°W / 51.236115; -0.571508
OS grid reference	SU 99825 49515
Built	1660
Owner	Guildford Borough Council
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Guildford House
Designated	1 May 1953
Reference no.	1180153
Location of Guildford House in Surrey

Guildford House is a historic house at 155 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, England. Built in 1660, it is currently a municipal museum and art gallery.

Originally built for John Childs, a lawyer and, later, Mayor of Guildford on three occasions. In 1726, it was bought by John Martyr, also a lawyer, and remained in the family until 1850, when it was bought by Frank Apted as a shop for his brush and carpentry business. From 1914 to 1928, it was a stationers and booksellers. After a year as the carpet department of the adjoining drapers store, in 1929, it was converted into a restaurant which operated until 1956.^[1]

The house is a Grade I listed building in part for having many original features including a carved staircase, panelled rooms, original decorative plaster ceilings and wrought iron window fittings. Also for its timber-framed basic structure, which is clad to the front in painted wood and to the rear in mathematical tiles and tile-hanging.^[2]

The house contains some of Guildford borough's art collection including the world's largest public collection of pastel portraits by Guildford-born artist, John Russell, RA (1745–1806). Guildford House hosts changing exhibitions throughout the year. In June 2009, the administration of Guildford House, with Guildford Museum, Guildford Guildhall and Guildford Castle were brought together and run collectively as 'Guildford Heritage'.

• 
  Astrolabe by Richard Quinnel in the courtyard

• Guildford House Gallery - official site at Guildford Borough