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RUTLAND MAGISTRATES COURT

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The building now housing Rutland Magistrates' Court was built in the early 19th century behind Oakham Castle. Previously the court was held in the hall of Oakham Castle which was built c.1175-1195 and occupied its west end. The present Magistrates' Court is now held in an early 19th century building located behind the hall. The furnishings of the court are modern but there are remains of the furniture of the earlier court in the hall. The fittings at the east end of the hall were removed in 1911. The layout of the court at one end of a hall with relatively light furnishings was common until the 18th century and the court at Oakham is the currently the only surviving example.
The hall was used as an Assize Court from 1229-1970 and as a Law Court and Petty Sessions Court from 1229 to an unknown date. In 1800-1832 the hall featured a court room and a cell block and the current Magistrates' Court started use at a date unknown at the time of this record's construction.

The Magistrates' Court is presently located in an extension which was built in the early 19th century as a jury room. This room features a suspended ceiling and original joinery and post-war court furnishings.

The building lies in a Conservation Area.

As of 2012 it is understood that this court is being considered for disposal.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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The building now housing Rutland Magistrates' Court was built in the early 19th century behind Oakham Castle. Previously the court was held in the hall of Oakham Castle which was built c.1175-1195 in Castle Grounds off Market Place, Oakham, Rutland, and occupied its west end. The present Magistrates' Court is now held in an early 19th century building located behind the hall. The furnishings of the court are modern but there are remains of the furniture of the earlier court in the hall. The fittings at the east end of the hall were removed in 1911. The layout of the court at one end of a hall with relatively light furnishings was common until the 18th century and the court at Oakham is the currently the only surviving example.
The hall was used as an Assize Court from 1229-1970 and as a Law Court and Petty Sessions Court from 1229 to an unknown date. In 1800-1832 the hall featured a court room and a cell block and became the current Magistrates' Court at a date unknown at the time of this record's construction. (1)

At present, all that remains of Oakham Castle is the stone built Great Hall which was constructed by Walkelin de Ferrers c.1175-1195. It is the earliest hall of any English castle to survive completely. The exterior of the building has undergone restoration and is made up of stone bricks and features a steeply pitched roof that is covered with tiles.
The interior of the building features arcades of four bays and circular piers with carved capitals. The building also features a collection of horseshoes that are displayed on the walls of the hall, some of which are dated to 1521. Since that time, the Lord of the Manor requested that every peer visiting the site had to give a horseshoe. A small group of Late Georgian court furnishings are displayed on a platform and face a bench with a pediment over the judge's chair in the hall.
The Magistrates' Court is presently located in an extension which was built in the early 19th century as a jury room. This room features a suspended ceiling and original joinery and post-war court furnishings. (2)

Oakham Castle is a grade I listed building. For further details on the designation see the statutory data. (3)

At the time of compiling this record in 2012, access to information on the designation noted in source 3 above is available via the National Heritage List for England. (4)

According to English Heritage's Corporate GIS this building lies in a Conservation Area. The National Grid Reference for the building is: SK8614708895 (5)

According to a list supplied to English Heritage's Government Historic Estates Unit, at the time of compiling this record in 2012, it is understood that this court is being considered for disposal. (6)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) The Courts Database

Site no. 786.

(2) Pollard, Richard 2004 Silence in Court: the future of the UK's historic law courts

Page(s)121-122

(3) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Rutland, 08-May-1950

(4) World Wide Web page

The National Heritage List for England, Oakham Castle, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1073277 [Accessed 02-MAR-2012]

(5) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

1:1250, 2008

(6) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

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