The Guildhall is one of three outstanding buildings that surround St Mary’s Churchyard (the others being St Mary’s itself and the 15th century Deanery Tower).
During the 15th and 16th centuries Hadleigh was possibly the most important and richest of the Suffolk woollen cloth towns. This wealth is evident today in the many remarkable medieval and Tudor buildings that survive to the present day. For almost six hundred years the timber framed Guildhall complex has been the centre of public life in the town. It has seen many changes in both form and function, serving as Market House, Guildhall, Cloth Hall, Workhouse, Assembly Rooms, School and even a Corset Factory.