Sessions House, Ely

Last updated

Sessions House
Ely Sessions House - geograph.org.uk - 280818.jpg
LocationLynn Road, Ely
Coordinates 52°24′04″N0°15′48″E / 52.4010°N 0.2632°E / 52.4010; 0.2632
Built1821
ArchitectCharles Humphrey
Architectural style(s) Palladian style
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameSessions House
Designated22 September 1950
Reference no.1296765
Cambridgeshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Cambridgeshire

The Sessions House, formerly the Shire Hall, is a courthouse in Lynn Road, Ely, in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. The building, which is now used as the meeting place of the City of Ely Council, is a Grade II* listed building. [1]

Contents

History

The building was commissioned by the justices to replace an earlier sessions house in the Market Place. [2] The site they selected, on the east side of Lynn Road, was owned by the Rev. John Bringhurst and the Dean and Chapter of Ely. [1] The building was designed by Charles Humphrey in the Palladian style, built in buff brick with stone facings at a cost of £6,000 and was opened as the Shire Hall in June 1821. [3]

The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage of nine bays facing Lynn Road with the end bays projected forward as pavilions. The central section of four bays formed a full-height tetrastyle portico with four fluted Doric order columns supporting an frieze with triglyphs and a pediment with the Royal coat of arms in the tympanum. At the back of the portico was a central double door. The other bays on the ground floor and all the bays on the first floor were fenestrated by sash windows with architraves. The north end block was fenestrated by a round headed window, while the south end block was fenestrated by two cell-type windows. Both end blocks were faced with corner pilasters and balustraded at roof level. Internally, the principal room was the main courtroom which was at the centre of the building. [1]

In 1828, the Shire Hall was the venue for the trial and conviction of the poacher, John Rolfe, who was accused of murdering his poaching companion at Littleport. Rolfe was subsequently executed by hanging. [4] [5] A house of correction with 35 cells was erected behind the building in 1843. At the same time a chapel in the south end block was converted for use by the local police. [6]

The building was initially used solely for judicial purposes but in 1850, it also became the meeting place of the local board, which met for the first time under the chairmanship of the dean of Ely Cathedral, George Peacock, on 11 October 1850. [7] In 1894, the local board was succeeded by Ely Urban District Council, [8] which also used the Shire Hall as its meeting place. [9] [10]

In the early 20th century, the 6th Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps used the north end block as an armoury. [11] After the Second World War, the council converted the old fire station at 6 Lynn Road to become its offices and meeting place, and relocated there. [12] [13] [14]

The Shire Hall, which gradually became known as the Sessions House, [15] remained in judicial use until 2011 when it closed, as part of central government measures to close 93 magistrates' courts across England and Wales. [16] The building was subsequently acquired by City of Ely Council in 2013 to serve as its offices and meeting place. [17] A scene from the comedy film, Harvey Greenfield Is Running Late, starring Annette Badland, was shot in the building in 2022. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Cambridgeshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

East Cambridgeshire is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in the city of Ely. The district also contains the towns of Littleport and Soham and surrounding rural areas, including parts of the Fens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterbeach</span> Village in Cambridgeshire, England

Waterbeach is a village 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Cambridge on the edge of The Fens, in the South Cambridgeshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It was designated a "new town" in 2018.

A county hall or shire hall is a common name given to a building that houses the seat of local government for a county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridgeshire County Council</span> The elected administrative body governing Cambridgeshire, England

Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council for non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire, England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes the City of Peterborough. The county council consists of 61 councillors, representing 59 electoral divisions. The council is based at New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald, near Huntingdon. It is part of the East of England Local Government Association and a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pembrokeshire County Council</span> Local government of Pembrokeshire, Wales

Pembrokeshire County Council is the local authority for the county of Pembrokeshire, one of the principal areas of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ely Urban District</span>

The city of Ely formed a local government district in the Isle of Ely and Cambridgeshire from 1850 to 1974. It was administered as a local board district from 1850 to 1894, and as an urban district from 1894 to 1974. Unusually for somewhere which claimed city status, Ely was not a municipal borough.

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

The Shire Hall is a municipal building in Fore Street, Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, England. The building, which currently serves as a Magistrates' Court, is a Grade I listed building.

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

Shire Hall is a former municipal building in Castle Hill in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. It was the headquarters of Cambridgeshire County Council from 1932 until 2021, when the council moved to New Shire Hall at Alconbury Weald, some 23 miles from Cambridge.

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

Wisbech Town Hall is a historic building on North Brink, Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. The building incorporates the offices, council chamber and mayor's parlour of Wisbech Town Council, and is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire Hall, Presteigne</span> County building in Presteigne, Wales

The Shire Hall is a municipal structure in Broad Street, Presteigne, Powys, Wales. The building incorporates a well-preserved courtroom and a museum known as "the Judge's Lodging". Once the judicial centre for Radnorshire, is a Grade II* listed building.

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

Felixstowe Town Hall is a municipal building in Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. The building is the meeting place of Felixstowe Town Council.

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

The Shire Hall is a municipal building in Market Hill in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. The structure, which is the meeting place of Woodbridge Town Council, is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenby Town Hall</span> County Building in Tenby, Wales

Tenby Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The structure, which is used as an events venue, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenland Hall, March</span> Municipal building in March, Cambridgeshire, England

Fenland Hall is a municipal building on County Road, March, Cambridgeshire, England, which serves as the headquarters of Fenland District Council. The building was originally called "County Hall", and was built in 1908–1909 by Isle of Ely County Council to be its meeting place and offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterborough Combined Court Centre</span> Judicial building in Peterborough, England

The Peterborough Combined Court Centre is a Crown Court venue, which deals with criminal cases, as well as a County Court venue, which deals with civil cases, in Rivergate, Peterborough, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sessions House, Peterborough</span> County building in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England

The Sessions House is a former judicial building in Thorpe Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. The building, which was the main courthouse for the Soke of Peterborough and is currently unused, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England

Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall is a municipal building in Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England. The structure operates as a community events venue, as well as the offices and meeting place of Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council.

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

Prescot Town Hall is a municipal building in Warrington Road, Prescot, a town in Merseyside, England. The building is currently used as the offices and meeting place of Prescot Town Council.

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

Ivybridge Town Hall is a municipal building at Erme Court in Ivybridge, a town in Devon, in England. It serves as the meeting place of Ivybridge Town Council.

Frome Town Hall is a municipal building in Christchurch Street West in Frome, a town in Somerset, in England. It currently accommodates the offices and meeting place of Frome Town Council.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Sessions House (1296765)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "A lithograph of Ely Market Place when the cattle market was held in front of the Sessions House". Cambridgeshire Community Archive. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Blakeman, Pamela (2016). Ely History Tour. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445656908.
  4. ↑ "History comes alive at Sessions House, Ely". Visit Ely. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "The evil Cambridgeshire killers who paid the price with their blood". Cambridge News. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Chinese students enjoy a tour of the Sessions House in Ely". Ely Standard. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ely". Cambridge Independent Press. 12 October 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Ely UD". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ely Local Board". Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal. 20 April 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Ely Urban District Council". Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal. 11 January 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Rouse, Michael (2018). A-Z of Ely Places-People-History. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445683454.
  12. ↑ Telephone Directory, 1946: Ely Urban District Council (all departments), Lynn Road
  13. ↑ Donald, Sir Robert (1965). Municipal Year Book and Public Utilities Directory. p. 1250. Offices: Lynn Road, Ely... Meeting: Council Chamber, U.D.C. Offices, Lynn Road, Ely
  14. ↑ Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map, 1972: Building between 4 Lynn Road and Court House labelled as "U D C Offices". Building in same location as "F E Station" as labelled on 1927 map.
  15. ↑ "What is to become of the Ely Courthouse?". Ely People. 8 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  16. ↑ "Ely Magistrates' Court closes doors for the last time". BBC News. BBC. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  17. ↑ Mansfield, Daniel (26 March 2013). "Ely Magistrates' Court bought for just £1 by City of Ely Council". Cambs Times. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "My astonishing behind the scenes experience as an extra in new Cambs-based film". Cambriadge News. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
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.