HISTORIC GUILDHALL

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 12

HISTORIC GUILDHALL

PLACE FOR WEDDINGS. “THERE WILL BE A RUSH NOW.” By the recent decision of the City of London Corporation, -registry office marriages in London, will, in future, take place at Guildhall instead of in the buildings of the old City of London Union. Under the Local Government Act, 1929, the City Corporation has become the authority for the registration of births, deaths and marriages. In that connection, the Overseas’ Committee through its chairman, Mr W. J. Trice, asked the Court to vote a sum not exceeding £4OO for providing a strong room and offices, and also accommodation for the solemnization of marriages. On the presentation of the committees report, Mr Deputy Ellis said the Corporation was going to provide a strong room for the storage of all documents of the new registrar, and accommodation for weddings to take place in, but nothing he added, amid laughter, was said about who was to do the “marrying business.” Was it to be the Town Clerk, the chairman of the committee, or Mr Cockell, the clerk? The Town Clerk: That question does not really arise' on this report. The other matters will come up in due course. Mr Ellis: But the report speaks of “accomodation for the solemnization of marriage,” so I’m quite in order We have a very splendid room in the new offices of the valuation and rating department. It is so nice that members have described it as the “bar-parlour.” There is a polished floor, and there arc beautiful pictures round thei'walls, and it will make an admirable place for a wedding. There will be a rush to get married now. There ougljt to be special rates charged for getting married at Guildhall, and it ought to be well advertised that marriages can be solemnized in this historic place. Mr Horner apropos of nothing in particular, said it was never intended that marriages should take place in the strong room.