County Hall, Grade II* listed administrative building in New Road, Oxford, England
County Hall is a Grade II* listed building on New Road in Oxford featuring Gothic Revival architecture with a castellated appearance. Its main frontage displays five bays and a central projecting porch, giving it a fortress-like quality that distinguishes it from surrounding structures.
Built in 1841 from a design by architect John Plowman, this building replaced the previous judicial sessions house that had stood on the Oxford Castle grounds. The move marked an important shift in how local administration and court functions were organized in the region.
The building serves as the administrative heart of Oxfordshire County Council, where local government decisions that affect the region are made daily. This working government center remains open to the public, allowing visitors to see where local affairs are conducted.
The building is located on New Road and open to the public during standard business hours for administrative services. As this is a working government building, access to certain areas may be restricted during official functions.
The building once functioned as a courthouse and hosted significant legal proceedings that made local headlines. This judicial past remains part of its identity, though its role has shifted entirely to administrative work today.
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