Northampton’s Guildhall will turn back the clock to 1865 this September, when its court room, corridors and council chamber become the setting for a series of live historical re-enactments.

For one day, visitors will be able to see the landmark building as generations before them might have known it, with actors, councillors and volunteers bringing some of its stories to life as part of Heritage Open Days.

The free event, on Saturday, September 19, will take visitors on a one-hour journey through the Guildhall, beginning in the Great Hall before moving through some of the building’s most historic rooms.

Local actors from The Mystery Tours will recreate scenes from the Guildhall’s Victorian past as part of From Courtroom to Council Chamber: Stories of the Guildhall from 1865.

Among the highlights will be a live court case staged in the Court Room and a recreation of an 1865 council meeting in the Council Chamber – both taking place in the rooms where such moments would once have unfolded for real.

Visitors will also be taken into the Mayor’s Parlour, where they will meet the current Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Mike Hallam, before continuing through the Mayor’s Corridor and Great Hall Corridor.

The tour will include the Godwin Room before finishing outside the Guildhall, where visitors will be able to discover more about the stories behind the building’s distinctive stone carvings.

Cllr Les Marriott, Leader of Northampton Town Council, said: “Northampton has an incredibly rich heritage, and the Guildhall is one of the finest examples of that history right at the heart of our town.

“Heritage is something we have a responsibility to protect and invest in, but it is equally important that people have the opportunity to experience it and understand the stories behind these remarkable buildings.

“These tours are a fantastic way of doing that. Rather than simply walking around and looking at the architecture, visitors will be able to step back into 1865 and see the Court Room and Council Chamber brought to life.”

The Guildhall has stood at the heart of Northampton’s civic life for generations, witnessing decisions, debates and court proceedings that have helped shape the town.

Yet while its architecture remains familiar to many, the people and events which once filled its rooms can be harder to imagine.

Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Mike Hallam, said the re-enactments would offer visitors a glimpse behind that history.

“The Guildhall has witnessed so much of Northampton’s history, but it can be difficult to imagine what actually happened behind these doors more than 160 years ago,” he said.

“Seeing a Victorian court case and a council meeting recreated in the rooms where these things actually took place will give people a real sense of what life was like.

“It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet people who may never have visited the Guildhall before and share a little of its story. Our heritage belongs to all of us, and events like this help make that history engaging and relevant to today’s communities.”

The event forms part of this year’s Heritage Open Days programme, themed Everyday Histories, which celebrates the places, people and stories that have shaped communities.

Cllr Kamala Guliyeva, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful historic buildings across West Northamptonshire, and Heritage Open Days gives people a fantastic opportunity to explore them and discover the stories behind them.

“Northampton Guildhall is a great example of our rich heritage, and this event will bring its history to life in an engaging and memorable way for visitors of all ages.”

Tours will run every half hour from 11am until 2.30pm on Saturday, September 19.

Places are free and available on a first come, first served basis, with visitors signing up in the Great Hall on the day.

The event is being delivered by Northampton Town Council in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council, with The Mystery Tours providing the historical re-enactments alongside Town Council staff, councillors and volunteers.

Further information about Heritage Open Days and events taking place across Northampton is available at www.northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/heritage-open-days.