Shire Hall

Details

WORCESTER

SO8455SE FOREGATE STREET
620-1/12/273 (East side)
22/05/54 Shire Hall

GV II*

Shire Hall. c1834-5 with later additions and alterations
including those c1895 and c1995. Architects, Charles Day,
County Surveyor, and Henry Rowe of Worcester. Ashlar over
brick with stucco scored in imitation of ashlar over brick to
additions; concealed roof. Entrance lobby with full-width
great hall and 2 rear courts with stairwell between. Greek
Revival. Single tall storey, 3 bays with single-storey,
single-bay outer ranges. Centre projects with 4 steps to
hexastyle portico with giant fluted Ionic columns and Doric
pilasters supporting dentil entablature with pediment. Outer
bays have giant Doric pilasters on continuous plinth to ends
with continuous entablature and coped parapet. Central
entrance, tall panelled double doors and panelled overlight in
tooled entablature. Returns of centre block, and end bays have
stained glass windows in tooled surrounds with cornices and
continuous sill band. Further entrance to left return: double
4-panel doors with sidelights and divided overlight.
INTERIOR: great hall rises through 2 storeys and has oak
panelling to lower part with surmounting cornice; double,
panelled doors with blind lunettes over, those giving access
to courts have Art Nouveau masks representing Justice; gallery
at rear on console brackets has cast-iron balusters;
barrel-vaulted ceiling with coffering; lateral windows have
stained glass with coats of arms within architraves with Doric
pilasters and shallow central pediments. Staircase has narrow
well and cast-iron balusters with wreathed oak handrail. Court
One is largely original and has panelling to lower stage with
flush beading; gallery to 3 sides with ornate cast-iron
balusters, to rear wall a blind arcade of Doric pilasters;
judges' bench has canopy on scrolled corbels; benches.
HISTORICAL NOTE: by the early C19 it was realised that the
Guildhall (qv) was too small to contain all that it did,
particularly when the County Court Assizes were being held. In
1829 the County sought legal advice to see if it would be
possible to extend the courts belonging to the City; this was
not permitted but instead a special act of parliament was
granted to enable the County to purchase land in Foregate
Street on which the new Shire Hall and Judges Lodgings (qv)
were built at a cost of ,32,000.
An outstanding example of early C19 government architecture.
Pevsner, describes this as 'This is an impeccable Grecian
design, in the Smirke taste, of fine ashlar stone ... with ...
excellent Schinkelish detail.'

Abuts Judges' Lodgings, Sansome Walk (qv).
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Worcestershire:
Harmondsworth: 1968-1985: 323; Old Worcester - People and
Places: Gwilliam H W: Old Worcester - People and Places:
Worcester: 1977-: 85).

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

488782

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Gwilliam, H W, Old Worcester People and Places, (1977), 85
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, (1968), 323

End of official list entry

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