Shire Hall, Chelmsford


The Shire Hall is a municipal facility in the High Street in Chelmsford, Essex. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The building, which was designed by John Johnson in the classical style with a Portland stone façade, opened in July 1791. It was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice. In 1856, after a crowd entered the building to attend a trial of five men charged with murder while poaching, the staircase collapsed killing one youth and seriously injuring four others. Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it also became the official meeting place of Essex County Council. However, in order to facilitate travel arrangements, council meetings were actually held in London in the early 20th century, and then at the new County Hall from the mid-20th century.
The Shire Hall's function as a judicial facility reduced with the opening of the new Crown Court in New Street in the 1980s and ceased with the opening of a new Magistrates' Court in New Street in April 2012.