Lincoln Crown Court

Last updated

Lincoln Crown Court
Lincoln Crown Court (geograph 3168057).jpg
Location Lincoln, England
Coordinates 53°14′06″N0°32′30″W / 53.2351°N 0.5416°W / 53.2351; -0.5416
Built1823
Architect Sir Robert Smirke
Architectural style(s) Gothic style
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameAssize Courts
Designated8 October 1953
Reference no. 1388488
Lincolnshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Lincoln Crown Court in Lincolnshire

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]

History

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln, England</span> Cathedral city in Lincolnshire, England

Lincoln is a cathedral city and district in Lincolnshire, England, of which it is the county town. In the 2021 Census, the city's district had a population of 103,813. The 2021 census gave the urban area of Lincoln, including Bracebridge Heath, North Hykeham and Waddington, a recorded population of 127,540.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Cathedral</span> Church in Lincolnshire, England

Lincoln Cathedral, also called Lincoln Minster and formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, is a Church of England cathedral in Lincoln, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Lincoln and is the mother church of the diocese of Lincoln. The cathedral is governed by its dean and chapter, and is a grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloody Assizes</span> English trials after the Monmouth Rebellion, 1685

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Kesteven</span> District in England

North Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The council is based in Sleaford. The district also contains the town of North Hykeham, which adjoins the neighbouring city of Lincoln, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Castle</span> Castle in eastern England built by 11th-century Norman invaders

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manby</span> Village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirehall, Hereford</span> County building in Hereford, Herefordshire, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taunton Shire Hall</span> County building in Taunton, Somerset, England

Taunton Shire Hall is a municipal building on Shuttern in Taunton, Somerset. The Shire Hall, which serves as a Crown Court, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Hall, Derby</span> County building in Derby, Derbyshire, England

County Hall, Derby is a municipal building in St Mary's Gate in Derby, England. The building, which was the headquarters of Derbyshire County Council from 1889 to 1955, is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Crown Court</span> Historic site in Reading, Berkshire

Reading Crown Court is a judicial facility in Reading, Berkshire. It is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire Hall, Bedford</span> County building in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

The Shire Hall is a municipal building in St Paul's Square, Bedford, Bedfordshire. The shire hall, which was the headquarters of Bedfordshire County Council from 1888 to 1969, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirehall, Norwich</span> County building in Norwich, Norfolk, England

The Shirehall is a municipal facility in Market Avenue, Norwich, Norfolk. It is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Hall, Oxford</span> County building in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

County Hall is a municipal building on New Road in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. County Hall, which is the headquarters of Oxfordshire County Council, is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Lancaster, Lancashire, England

Lancaster Town Hall is a municipal building in Dalton Square, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It was built in 1909 and is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Wells, Somerset, England

Wells Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Wells, Somerset, England. The building, which is the headquarters of Wells City Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Sessions House</span> Municipal building in Boston, England

Boston Sessions House is a judicial structure in Church Close, Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The structure, which used to be the main courthouse for the north of Parts of Holland, is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln City Hall</span> Municipal building in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln City Centre</span> City and Historical Area of Lincoln in England

Lincoln City Centre is the historical and cultural area of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. It is defined as the areas along the 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire Hall, Appleby-in-Westmorland</span> Judicial building in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sessions House, Sleaford</span> Municipal building in Sleaford, England

The Sessions House, also known as Sleaford Town Hall, is a judicial structure in the Market Place, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. The structure, which used to be the main courthouse for the county of Kesteven, is a Grade II* listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Historic England. "Assize Courts, Lincoln (1388488)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "History". Lincoln Castle. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Lincoln Castle County Hall". Lincoln City Council. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Antram, N.; Pevsner, N.; Harris, J. (1989). The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire. Penguin Books; reissued by Yale University Press. p. 506. ISBN   0300096208.
  5. 1 2 Allen, Thomas (1833). "The history of the county of Lincoln". p. 200.
  6. ↑ "William Frederick Horry – History in the making". Capitalpunishmentuk.org. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1888". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  8. ↑ Wheatley, Pearl. "Newland House" (PDF). Lincolnshire Past and Present Issue 92 Summer 2013. Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. p. 13. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "New Lincoln court building plans shelved". BBC. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Crown Court won't move from castle". The Lincolnite. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Lincoln Castle: Taking liberties". Building. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Lincoln Crown Court move plans submitted". BBC. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Plans to move Lincoln Crown Court into Magistrates Court". The Lincolnite. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.