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:
- 08-May-1950
- List Entry Name:
- The Shire Hall
- Statutory Address:
- The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-06-30
- Reference:
- IOE01/08368/23
- Rights:
- © Mr Douglas Holt. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1119069
- Date first listed:
- 08-May-1950
- List Entry Name:
- The Shire Hall
- Statutory Address 1:
- The Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UY
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 13:34:57.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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