Shire Hall

Magistrates Court and offices with attached steps and boundary walls at Appleby in Westmorland, formerly an Assize and County Court. Built 1776–1778 by Daniel Benn of Whitehaven, with additions in 1814 and 1879, and late 20th-century alterations.

The building is constructed of painted roughcast over rubble sandstone with ashlar dressings. Later extensions are of coursed red sandstone. Ashlar ridge stacks and hipped roofs with Westmorland slate coverings laid to diminishing courses are throughout.

The plan forms an irregular U-shaped complex that evolved behind the original frontage range. It now incorporates a rear L-shaped range, the survivor of late 19th-century remodelling and enlargement.

The south-west front elevation is asymmetrical with 8 bays across 2 storeys. The right-hand bay is an addition of 1813–1814. A flight of 7 steps runs the full length of the frontage. Four tall doorways occupy the left-hand side, each with ashlar surrounds, double 4-panel doors, and rectangular overlights. To the right are 3 tall windows with ashlar surrounds, timber cross frames, and glazing bars. The added end bay features a doorway matching the earlier design. The upper floor contains 8 square window openings with ashlar surrounds and glazing bar casements.

The south-east side elevation comprises 2 bays forming a return to the frontage range, then a 3-bay advanced gable detailed as a wide pediment. This gable has glazing bar sash windows of 8 over 12 panes to the ground floor and 4 over 8 panes to the upper floor. An off-centre stub of a former enclosure wall extends south-eastwards. Further right is a late 19th-century extension set back, comprising 6 bays with a 2-bay end coped gable slightly advanced. An off-centre doorway is enclosed by a 20th-century open porch. Sash window frames, some 6 over 6 pane, sit within flush ashlar surrounds. An end gable extends north-westwards to enclose a flagged courtyard, formerly the female prisoners' yard, with glazing bar sashes to all courtyard window openings. A plain north-west wall with a single doorway and blind barred openings—the only surviving element of the former gaol—completes the enclosure.

Attached to both ends of this range are surviving sections of security walling built when the complex also formed part of the County Gaol. This rubble wall varies in height, with flagstones inclined downwards and outward on the inner face of the upper walling. A ground plan of 1873 shows the full extent of the wall; the sections attached to the gabled range and the fragment attached to the advanced pedimented gable are surviving elements. The section extending south-eastward from the north-east corner of the site is the tallest and most substantial remnant.

The interior courtroom was remodelled in the late 20th century but retains late 19th-century stepped panelled partition walling on one side. Other areas are plainly detailed with late 19th-century joinery.

The designs for the new Shire Hall were prepared by Daniel Benn, the Whitehaven agent of Sir James Lowther. Later additions first provided a new jury room and offices, and subsequently facilities for the attached parts of the County Gaol. Despite ongoing alteration, the building still displays characteristics of all stages of its development as a late 18th-century court building enlarged and remodelled to form part of a complex of court and prison facilities.