Shire Hall, Bedford

The Shire Hall is a municipal building in Bedford, Bedfordshire. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

Shire Hall, Bedford
Location	Bedford, Bedfordshire
Coordinates	52.1350°N 0.4697°W / 52.1350; -0.4697
Built	1881
Architect	Alfred Waterhouse Charles Holden
Architectural style(s)	Gothic revival style
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated	14 May 1971
Reference no.	1114519
Location of Shire Hall, Bedford in Bedfordshire

History

The Shire Hall replaced an earlier sessions house for the county which had been built on the site in 1753.[2] The new building, which was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in the Gothic revival style, was completed in 1881.[1] It was originally 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 for Bedfordshire County Council.[3] It was extended to the designs of Charles Holden in 1910[1] and further augmented when the adjacent Cowper Building (formerly part of the grammar school) was acquired in 1938.[4] After the County Council moved to County Hall, a larger and more modern complex, in 1969,[5] the Shire Hall was used solely as the magistrates' court and as the county court.[6]

References

1. Historic England. "Shire Hall, Bedford (1114519)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
2. "Sessions House or Shire Hall". Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
3. "Local Government Act 1888". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
4. Historic England. "County Offices (Cowper Building), Bedford (1321438)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
5. "Borough Hall should be historically listed, says councillor". Bedford Today. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
6. "Bedford County Court and Family Court". Gov.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2019.