Shire Hall, Gothic revival courthouse in St Paul's Square, Bedford, Great Britain
Shire Hall is a courthouse in St Paul's Square featuring a red terracotta facade with five front bays, an arched entrance, and decorative roof-level details. Inside, it houses two courtrooms with original furnishings and galleries, plus an entrance hall with a timber roof and historic floor tiles.
Architect Alfred Waterhouse designed the building in 1858 to replace an earlier sessions house in the same location. It later served as Bedfordshire County Council headquarters before returning to its primary judicial function.
The name reflects a traditional English administrative system, and the Victorian interior displays crafted details like the entrance hall's timber roof and decorated floor tiles. These elements reveal the period's attention to functional beauty in public spaces.
The building has limited public access since it functions as an active courthouse with restricted visiting hours and areas. It is best to check beforehand whether tours are available and to understand which parts of the building visitors may enter.
In 1910, five additional facade sections were added to accommodate a specially designed council chamber with an unusual polygon shape. This expansion shows how the building adapted to changing administrative needs.
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