Plans to shape the future of Dorchester’s historic Shire Hall are moving forward.
A steering group met on Monday 20 February 2012 to discuss proposals to develop the Shire Hall, Old Crown Court and Cells as an important heritage attraction for the town.
The plans include redeveloping the Grade 1 listed building in order to accommodate Dorchester’s award winning Tourist Information Centre as well as high quality exhibition and educational resource areas for visitors to learn about the Shire Hall’s place in history.
Located on the county town’s High West Street, the building contains the courtroom in which the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried in 1834 and is an important monument to labour history. In later years Thomas Hardy also sat as a magistrate in the court and his experiences there are thought to have inspired some of his writing.
Since 1974 the Shire Hall has been part of a campus of buildings owned by West Dorset District Council. It has been a long held aspiration of the district council to develop the Shire Hall into a high quality visitor attraction that reflects the building’s historical significance. There had been hopes that the National Trust would take on the project however the challenging economic climate has meant the district council will retain ownership of the building in order to take the redevelopment forward.
The purpose of the steering group meeting was to discuss the next phase of the redevelopment of the building into a visitor attraction, including the preparation of an interpretation plan and business plan to ensure the attraction becomes profitable. It is expected that the project will require significant external funding and the district council has started to prepare an application to be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Leader of West Dorset District Council Robert Gould said: “ The district council hasinvited groups with knowledge of the building and an interest in the project to come and share their views on how the Shire Hall can be developed as a visitor attraction. We have gone to lengths to ensure we have key stakeholders in the project on board.
“The Shire Hall is to remain in public ownership for the time being and so it is right that members of the general public also have a say in its future. Later this year there will be the opportunity for local people to give their views as the proposals go out to formal consultation.”
Over the summer detailed plans will be drawn up which will go out to public consultation towards the end of this year.
For further information about the project to redevelop the Shire Hall contact the West Dorset District Council Communications Team on 01305 252 451.
Background information
The district council has appointed historic buildings conservation consultants, Philip Hughes Associates to lead the project to convert the Shire Hall into a visitor attraction.
