Shire Hall Complex, Bury St Edmunds
The Shire Hall Complex is a group of municipal buildings in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England.History
The complex lies within the original precincts of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. The most prominent building in the complex, the Old Shire hall, dates back to the 18th century, was remodeled in the early 19th century and was further restructured to the designs of William McIntosh Brookes in the Greek Revival style between 1841 and 1842. The Old Shire Hall was originally used as the local 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 for West Suffolk County Council.
The Old Shire Hall was then rebuilt to the designs of Archie Ainsworth-Hunt, the county architect, in the Edwardian Baroque style between 1906 and 1907. St Margaret's House, another 18th century building was subsequently incorporated into the complex.
A large modern extension, often referred to as the New Shire Hall, was added in 1968. However the New Shire Hall became under-utilised after the County Council was abolished in 1974 and the building was converted into a Premier Inn Hotel in 2014. Meanwhile the Old Shire Hall ceased operating as a courthouse after the magistrates' court closed in 2016.
