Chester Crown Court

Chester Crown Court is a judicial facility at Castle Square in Chester, Cheshire. It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

Chester Crown Court
LocationChester, Cheshire
Coordinates53.1858°N 2.8918°W / 53.1858; -2.8918
Built1801
ArchitectThomas Harrison
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated1 June 1967
Reference no.1271823
Location of Chester Crown Court in Cheshire

History

A previous Shire Hall had been built just outside the main gate in 1310 but was in a derelict state by the late 18th century.[2] A new building, designed by Thomas Harrison, was completed in 1801.[1] Its façade is about 250 feet (76 m) long and 25 feet (8 m) high, in nineteen bays with two storeys. At its centre is a Doric-style portico with twelve columns (in two rows), projecting forwards by about 10 feet (3 m).[3] The imposing courtroom was inspired by the School of Anatomy in Paris.[4] It was used as a facility for dispensing justice from the early 19th century and continues to be used as a Crown Court.[5] Famous trials at the court have included those of the Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, known as the Moors Murderers, in April 1966.[6]

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Assize Courts Block, Chester (1271823)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  2. Barrow, J S; Herson, J D; Lawes, A H; Riden, P J; M V J, Seaborne (2005). "'Major buildings: Castle', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 2, the City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions". London: British History Online. pp. 204–213. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. Champness, John (2005), Thomas Harrison, Georgian Architect of Chester and Lancaster, 1744–1829, Lancaster: Centre for North-West Regional Studies, Lancaster University, pp. 47–49, ISBN 1-86220-169-2
  4. "Chester's architecture in Grosvenor Museum exhibition". BBC. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  5. "Courts". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  6. "How The Chester Chronicle covered the infamous Moors Murders trial". Chester Chronicle. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
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