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The Shire Hall

The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1119069
Date first listed:: 07-May-1950
List Entry Name:: The Shire Hall
Statutory Address:: The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY

User submitted image — Uploaded by Lucy Parry This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Location

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⚔️ Battlefields
⚓ Shipwrecks

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.

Date:: 2001-06-30
Reference:: IOE01/08368/23
Rights:: © Mr Douglas Holt. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1119069
Date first listed:: 07-May-1950
List Entry Name:: The Shire Hall
Statutory Address 1:: The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Dorchester
National Grid Reference:: SY 69101 90736

Details

SY 6990 7/79

HIGH WEST STREET (North Side) The Shire Hall

8.5.50.

GV I

1797 (rainwater head). Architect Thomas Hardwick. Portland ashlar. Two storeys, seven windows. Divided into three bays, the centre (three windows) breaking forward and having rusticated ground floor with three round-arched openings with imposts and keystones. Each opening has rusticated reveals, double doors, transome and fanlight. Sash windows above, cornice and pediment. Side bays are two windows with round-headed windows to ground floor. Parapets. Cornice and string course continuous across facade. At east end of front is the mileage to Hyde Park Corner, Blandford and Bridport inscribed in contemporary incised lettering. A tablet states that the Tolpuddle Martyrs were sentenced here in 1834. Side elevation is red brick. Moulded modillion eaves cornice. Six sashes with glazing bars. Rainwater head with "1797".

Interior retains the court-room virtually as it was when the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried here. Contemporary wooden dock, bench, jury and witness boxes, and public galleries.

Nos 48 to 65A (consec) including the Shire Hall, Holy Trinity Church, the Museum, St. Peter's Church and monument to William Barnes in churchyard immediately south of West Tower form a group.

Listing NGR: SY6910190736

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 104381
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.