Old Shirehall, Shrewsbury, County hall from 1785 in Market Square, Shrewsbury, England
The Old Shirehall is a building from 1837 with a symmetrical front featuring nine bays and a central projecting section in Italian style on Market Square. The facade displays classical proportions and ornamental details that shape the square's appearance.
Sir Robert Smirke designed and built this structure in 1837 to replace an earlier building that had suffered foundation problems and structural cracks. A fire in November 1880 severely damaged the interior and prompted reconstruction work that changed the internal spaces.
The building served as a gathering place where locals witnessed legal cases and civic decisions that shaped their community. Its two courtrooms and great hall made it the center where public matters were decided and debated.
The building is located in the center of Market Square and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. It remains in use for events and public meetings, so visiting hours may vary depending on scheduled activities.
The building was abandoned as the county council's headquarters in 1966 when operations moved to a new site in Abbey Foregate. This shift ended over a century of service as the administrative heart of the region.
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