Lincoln Crown Court | |
---|---|
Location | Lincoln, England |
Coordinates | 53°14′06″N0°32′30″W / 53.2351°N 0.5416°W |
Built | 1823 |
Architect | Sir Robert Smirke |
Architectural style(s) | Gothic style |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Assize Courts |
Designated | 8 October 1953 |
Reference no. | 1388488 |
Lincoln Crown Court is a judicial facility in Lincoln, England. It is located on the western side of the grounds of Lincoln Castle and is a Grade II* listed building. [1]
Court hearings have taken place within the grounds of Lincoln Castle since the castle was built in the 11th century. [2] A medieval shirehall on the site was demolished and replaced by a new county hall in 1776. [3] After finding that the 18th century county hall was subsiding due to a mixture of local quarrying and poor construction, the justices ordered its demolition using prison labour and the commissioning of a new facility on the same site. [3]
The current building, which was designed by Sir Robert Smirke in the Gothic style and built at a cost of £40,000, was completed in 1823. [1] [4] [5] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with thirteen bays facing the east gate of the castle; the central section of three bays featured an arched doorway with a triple Gothic window on the first floor; the roof was crenellated and there were octagonal corner turrets. [1] Internally, the principal rooms in the building were the two courtrooms, one for hearing criminal cases and the other for hearing civil cases, both approximately square, decorated with wainscot panelling and located on the first floor. [1] There was also a grand jury room containing an ornate fireplace guarded by lions bearing shields. [5]
In March 1872 the courthouse was the venue for the trial and conviction of William Frederick Horry, accused of murdering his wife: Horry became the first person to be executed in the UK using the "long drop" method of execution, a technique developed by William Marwood which was faster and therefore considered more humane than the previous method, and which was subsequently universally used. [6]
The building continued to be used as a 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 of Lindsey County Council. [7] After the County Council moved to County Offices, Lincoln in 1932, [8] the building was retained for the assize courts and, since 1972, for the Crown Court. [1]
In the early 21st century Her Majesty's Courts Service announced proposals to move the Crown Court out of the castle grounds: this scheme was abandoned on the basis that it would not be value for money in November 2010. [9] [10] [11] The idea of re-locating the Crown Court, possibly to the magistrates court building on the High Street, was briefly resurrected again but not progressed in March 2014. [12] [13]
Lincoln is a cathedral city and district in Lincolnshire, England, of which it is the county town. In the 2021 Census, the Lincoln district had a population of 103,813. The 2021 census gave the urban area of Lincoln, including North Hykeham and Waddington, a recorded population of 127,540.
The Bloody Assizes were a series of trials started at Winchester on 25 August 1685 in the aftermath of the Battle of Sedgemoor, which ended the Monmouth Rebellion in England.
Lincoln Castle is a major medieval castle constructed in Lincoln, England, during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes. It is one of only two such castles in the country, the other being at Lewes in East Sussex. Lincoln Castle remained in use as a prison and court into modern times and is one of the better preserved castles in England; the Crown Courts continue to this day. It is open to the public most days of the week and possible to walk around the walls from which there are views of the castle complex, cathedral, the city, and surrounding countryside. Displayed within the castle is one of only four surviving exemplars of the Magna Carta of 1215. The castle is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council and is a scheduled monument.
Manby is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, and lies approximately 5 miles (8 km) east from Louth. Manby contains a village post office. Other amenities, including a primary school, The Manby Arms public house, two village shops, and an Italian restaurant, are in the conjoined village of Grimoldby, separated from Manby by the B1200 road. The population was 1,655 at the 2021 census.
Lincolnshire County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Lincolnshire in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county; the latter additionally includes North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire which are both unitary authorities and therefore independent from the county council.
The City of Lincoln Council is the local authority for the district of Lincoln, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. The council consists of 33 councillors, three for each of the 11 wards in the city. It is currently controlled by the Labour Party, led by Ric Metcalfe. The administrative headquarters is at Lincoln City Hall although council meetings are held at the guildhall.
The Shirehall is a building on St Peter's Square, Hereford, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.
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City Hall is a municipal structure on Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. The structure is currently used as the headquarters of the City of Lincoln Council.
Lincoln City Centre is the central business district of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. It is defined as the areas along directly north of city's High Street. Each part of the centre brings a differing main sector or sectors to the city with a small overlap between each area.
The Shire Hall is a municipal building in The Sands, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, England. The shire hall, which is currently used as a dental surgery and business centre, is a Grade II listed building.