Chester Crown Court

History

The current building replaced a previous shire hall which had been built just outside the main gate in 1310, but which was in a derelict state by the late 18th century. In 1785 the justices insisted that an architectural competition be held for a new shire hall as well as a new prison to be located behind the new shire hall; the site selected for the new complex formed part of the outer bailey of the castle.

Work on the new complex began with the demolition of the old buildings in 1788. Its two-storey façade was about 250 ft long and 25 ft high. It was described by Charles Dupin as "most assuredly the handsomest of this kind that is to be seen in Europe." The prison, which Harrison had also designed and which had been located behind the shire hall, was demolished in 1902.

A statue of Queen Victoria, designed by Frederick William Pomeroy, was unveiled outside the share hall by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton, on 17 October 1903.

The building was used as a facility for dispensing justice from the early 19th century and was latterly used as a Crown Court. Famous trials at the court have included those of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, known as the Moors Murderers, in April 1966. Bulletproof glass was erected around the dock to ensure the two defendants were protected during the trial. The court also saw the trial and conviction of Howard Hughes for the murder of Sophie Hook in June 1996.

References

References

1. {{NHLE
2. (2005). "'Major buildings: Castle', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 2, the City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions". British History Online.
3. Champness, John. (2005). "Thomas Harrison, Georgian Architect of Chester and Lancaster, 1744–1829". Centre for North-West Regional Studies, Lancaster University.
4. (15 November 2014). "Chester's architecture in Grosvenor Museum exhibition". BBC.
5. The Builder, volume 21, p. 204
6. (2012). "Public Sculpture of Cheshire and Merseyside (excluding Liverpool)". Liverpool University Press.
7. "Courts". Cheshire Live.
8. "Chester Crown Court". Gov.uk.
9. (20 April 2016). "How The Chester Chronicle covered the infamous Moors Murders trial". Chester Chronicle.
10. (July 23, 2019). "Bodies in the Bog: The Lindow Mysteries". [[Science History Institute]].
11. (2 July 1996). "Sophie jury visits murder site". Herald Scotland.