Moot Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne

Moot Hall
Location Newcastle upon Tyne
Coordinates 54°58′08″N 1°36′34″W / 54.96880°N 1.60932°W / 54.96880; -1.60932Coordinates: 54°58′08″N 1°36′34″W / 54.96880°N 1.60932°W / 54.96880; -1.60932
Built 1812
Architect John Stokoe
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated 17 December 1971
Reference no. 1116297
Location of Moot Hall in Tyne and Wear

The Moot Hall is a former courthouse in Newcastle upon Tyne.

History

The building was designed by John Stokoe as a courthouse to replace the facilities at the Castle for holding assizes which had been condemned for their inconvenience and unhealthiness.[1] The foundation stone was laid by Earl Percy on 22 July 1810 and the building was completed in August 1812.[1] The site had formed part of Pons Aelius in Roman times and two copper coins from the time of the Emperor Antoninus Pius and two Roman altars were found during the construction of the building.[1] Alterations were carried out to a design by William Crozier, Durham County Architect, in 1877.[2]

An inquiry in to the loss of SS Ina Mactavish was held at the Moot Hall in December 1907 and February 1908.[3] Notorious court cases held at the Moot Hall included the trial of Robert Black for the murder of four young girls committed between 1981 and 1986[4] and the trial of Albert Dryden for the murder of Harry Collinson in June 1991.[5] The trial of then 11 year old Mary Bell for the murder of two young boys also took place at Newcastle Assizes in 1968.[6] The Moot Hall heard all Crown Court cases before the new combined court complex was completed on the Quayside in 1998.[7] After becoming licensed as a venue for civil weddings, the Moot Hall hosted its first civil wedding in September 2005.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mackenzie, Eneas (1827). "'Public buildings: The county courts', in Historical Account of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Including the Borough of Gateshead". Newcastle-upon-Tyne: British History Online. p. 224-229. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Moot Hall". Historic England. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Leonard, Alan (2008). "The Wreck of SS Ina Mactavish". Picture Postcard Annual: 12–13.
  4. ↑ Pithers, Malcolm (13 April 1994). "Killing of girls 'every parent's nightmare': Man denies abduction and murder of three young girls in 'Midlands triangle'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Blackie, David (2006). "Death on a Summer's Day - The True Story of the Murder Britain Watched on Live Television". John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1844541904.
  6. ↑ "Mary Bell found guilty of double killing". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Newcastle Crown Court". The Chronicle. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Couple judge a court to be just fine for their wedding". Yorkshire Post. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
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