Mission

Shire Hall's core aim is to engage, inform & entertain a wide range of audiences with the history of law and order and past and present efforts to achieve justice for all people.Other aims are to:•Enable people to explore Shire Hall and its history for inspiration, enjoyment and learning•Create effective and enjoyable learning experiences•Be a centre of academic excellence•Maintain & conserve the building•Produce a sound business culture•Provide a respectful working environment Visitors will discover:<!--EndFragment-->What life was like for ordinary people living in Dorset when Shire Hall was the county court: a period of profound economic, political, and social change.Stories about some of the people and cases that were brought before the court at Shire Hall and how these compare to similar ones today.The trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, told through the words of people involved in the case.How the court functioned, from the perspective of everyone involved.How our ideas about crime, punishment and justice have changed over the past 200 years.

Category

Education and Skills

Additional Information

Shire Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian Assize court and cells in the heart of Dorchester, Dorset. It is a rare architectural gem, being one of the best-preserved buildings of its kind, and remains almost unchanged since it first opened in 1797.  The court was the scene of the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834, a significant moment in the history of the trades union movement. The trial, and subsequent events, changed the course of history and helped to shape the society in which we live today. In the early 20th century the writer Thomas Hardy served as a magistrate at this court, an experience that inspired some of his writing.  Shire Hall is currently undergoing a major redevelopment, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and West Dorset District Council. It will open in March 2018 as an exciting and ground-breaking new historic courthouse museum, encompassing many aspects of past and present law, politics, citizenship and history. There will be a lively programme of events and changing exhibitions, for people of all ages. The events will include music, talks, plays, artist in residence seasons and much more. There will also be spaces available to rent for meetings, social events and even weddings. An engaging lifelong learning programme will be on offer, covering all age groups and a busy schools programme covering many areas of the curriculum including History, PHSE, Literacy, Drama and Design and Technology.   The Shire Hall historic courthouse museum is due to open in March 2018.