Basic Information
A guildhall is a building used as a centre of guild operations. Depending on time and place it may be a meeting place for several guilds (especially in a small city or town where each guild may have only one or two masters franchised) or may be the headquarters of a single guild (usually in larger cities where there are many masters in a given guild). Size and quality will vary accordingly and also with the wealth and status of the guild(s) using it. Social guilds may or may not have a hall - some may be at least as rich and influential as the trade or craft guilds, whilst others may be more likely to meet in members homes or in inns and taverns (or even churches).
The guildhall is likely to be used for meetings of the guild chapter - especially for examinations and award ceremonies, and for feasts (an important part of any medieval organisation's life) - and, depending on the guild, may be used for storage and possibly even for business transactions. As such it is the likely habitat of the guild syndics. The sort of guildhall that is host to multiple guilds may even serve as a de-facto council house for the town. This will also be where guilds cary out any banking operations, dispense charity and administer their benevolent fund for widows and orphans of guildsmen.
Realistically, this is the place to which any travelling journeyman or master in search of a franchise should report, and the first port of call for anyone wishing to sell goods subject to a guild monopoly. A trade guild may also use their hall to assemble trade caravans or shipping expeditions. Pursuant to either or both of these functions, a guild hall may have some form of accomodation available - although the guild is just as likely to have a deal with an inn in most cases. Potentially a guild merchant that assembles a lot of caravans might well be based out of something that is essentially a private caravanserai. Hypothetical guilds for seamen are extremely likely to offer accomodation given the nature of their trade.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- Possibly a target for larcenous PCs given the quantities of ceremonial plate and regalia, not to mention stock in trade and pooled funds kept here.
- As noted, this is a significant thing for guildsman PCs.
- A guild is a likely patron and/or employer for all sorts of people and so more general work may be found here.
- Even more so if it's the multiple guild sort of hall.
- Even those down on their luck may find their way here, hoping to benefit from some guild charity.
- Realistically, every medieval town or larger settlement should have at least one. Whether every guild has one or not may be another matter.