Shire Hall, Dorchester
| Shire Hall | |
|
Dorset | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Shire hall |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SY69109073 |
| Location: | 50°42’55"N, 2°26’21"W |
| Town: | Dorchester |
| History | |
| Built 1796 – 1797 | |
| By: | Thomas Hardwick |
| Shire hall | |
| Georgian Neo-classical | |
| Information | |
| Website: | http://shirehalldorset.org/ |
Shire Hall is an 18th-century courthouse On High West Street in Dorchester, in Dorset. It was designed by Thomas Hardwick and built in 1796-97.
The building was the centre of law, order and government, and served as the the headquaters of the Dorset magistracy, and later of the Dorset County Council until 1955. It is today a Grade I listed building.[1]
Shire Hall has recently been refurbished as the 'Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum'.[2]
History
An earlier Shire Hall for Dorset had fallen into disrepair by 1769; a common fate of the originals of the Jacobean and Stuart era. Until the new building was completed, the justices held their sessions at The Antelope in town.[3] The new Shire Hall was built in 1796-97.
Shire Hall continued to operate in its original capacity until 1955, when the new county hall and crown court was opened.[4][3]
One of the most famous trials held at the hall was that of the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' in 1834. The six Dorset agricultural labourers were arrested for swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers, which they had formed to bargain for better wages. On 18 March 1834, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were sentenced to penal transportation to Australia. The sentence sparked public outrage, resulting in a petition of 800,000 signatures demanding their release and a 100,000-strong demonstration in London. All were pardoned, on condition of good conduct, in March 1836, with the support of Lord John Russell, who had recently become Home Secretary.[5][6] A plaque on the front of Shire Hall commemorates the centenary of the commemorating the trial.
Thomas Hardy, the novelist and poet, served as a magistrate at Shire Hall. He had been made Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Dorchester from 1884, sitting in court on almost forty occasions from then to 1919.[7] Hardy's experience as a magistrate provided inspiration for his writing.[3]
Modern conversion
In June 2014, planning permission was granted to transform the Shire Hall into a new Historic Courthouse Museum, with the aid of a great deal of taxpayers' money and £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2015.[2] Work commenced in 2016, while Christchurch based company Pride Painting and Decorating Ltd beginning restoration work in March 2017.[8][9]
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum opened to visitors on 1 May 2018.[10]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Shire Hall, Dorchester) |
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1119069: The Shire Hall, Dorchester
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shire Hall Project
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The history of Shire Hall – 'dorsetforyou.com', 28 January 2016
- ↑ 'Crown court closes': Trevor Bevins on Viewnews.co.uk
- ↑ Somerset, Merryn (2015-03-18). "18 March 1834: Tolpuddle Martyrs sentenced to transportation". Moneyweek.com. http://moneyweek.com/18-march-1834-tolpuddle-martyrs-sentenced-to-transportation/. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ Goldfarb, Michael (2010-11-27). "Political Marching: What's at risk? - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11849259. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2302&context=cq
- ↑ Trevor Bevins. "Hidden treasures uncovered as old court museum project takes shape". Viewnews.co.uk. https://www.viewnews.co.uk/hidden-treasures-uncovered-old-court-museum-project-takes-shape/. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ "Councillors of West Dorset District Council's strategy committee approved funding for the Shire Hall project (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15319380.Council_approve___583k_for_Shire_Hall_project_set_to_put_Dorchester__on_the_map_/?ref=rl&lp=5. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ Post reply. "Narrow historic door at Dorchester's old crown court to be altered to allow disabled access". Dorset Echo. http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/16033026.narrow-historic-door-at-dorchesters-old-crown-court-to-be-altered-to-allow-disabled-access/. Retrieved 2018-02-21.