The Tunnels of Hertford -
Given its long standing royal association it is no surprise that Hertford retained the right to be the centre for the dispensation of justice. The Quarterly Sessions and Assizes were held in Hertford. Up until 1609 these were held at Hertford Castle where the judges were also lodged.
In 1610 the tenant of the Castle Thomas Meautys petitioned the Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer for the right to hold assizes at the castle to be taken away.
By a charter dated 1605 from James 1 recognising the right to hold Sessions in Hertford and a charter dated 1627 from Charles 1 giving permission to erect a Sessions House the Shire Hall was built in 1627.
The west facing side was open as this was where one of Hertford’s markets took place. This was the situation until 1767 when at a meeting at the Bell public house (now the Salisbury Arms Hotel) the Council acknowledged that a new Shire Hall was needed.
Shire Hall
Bayley Hall Fore Street
The present space was considered too small and cramped and one suggestion was that it should be moved to the outskirts of town on a garden opposite the Blue Coats School. However this was overruled and by an Act of Parliament of 1768 King George 111 granted the building of a new Shire Hall consisting of two courts, two petty jury rooms, Grand Jury room, a room for the Corporation; and two water closets..
At the close of the Quarter Sessions on 9 August 1768 the old building was demolished and the new one erected before the next Session in November 1769.
By the late 1980’s the building was in a sorry state and parts near collapse. New plans were drawn up and the building was completely renovated to open again in 1990 to great public acclaim of the architectural quality.
There had been past attempts to have the Quarterly Sessions and Assizes moved to St Albans. With the establishment of the new County Court at St Albans in 1971 Hertford lost the rights to hold the superior courts. Both District and Town Councils used the rooms for meetings but the former have moved to Wallfields and the latter now has its administration offices and meetings in the Castle Gatehouse which is referred to as ‘the Castle’.
Shire Hall is now home to the local magistrates courts which sits every weekday and
apart from meetings of the court administrative bodies it is rarely used for other
purposes. See next page for a now and then photo of Fore Street with Shire Hall in
1962 and 2010. Visit BBC Shop for all your history needs.
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