Old Shirehall, Shrewsbury


The Old Shirehall was a municipal facility in Market Square, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

History

The building was commissioned to replace an earlier town hall on the site built in 1730. The new building, which was designed by Sir Robert Smirke, was completed in 1837. It was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it also became the meeting place of Salop County Council.
The local borough guildhall was incorporated into the shirehall under a long-standing arrangement which pre-dated Smirke's structure. The borough council moved out to Newport House in Dogpole in 1917 leaving the county council on their own.
After the county council moved to the new Shirehall in Abbey Foregate in 1966, it was demolished to make way for a new retail and commercial facility known as Princess House in 1971.