Former Courthouse - Knutsford Sessions House - Knutsford, Cheshire, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Poole/Freeman
N 53° 18.141 W 002° 22.445
30U E 541711 N 5906088
The Knutsford Sessions House is a former courthouse that is now The Courthouse Hotel located on Toft Road in Knutsford.
Waymark Code: WM13Q8M
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/30/2021
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member jhuoni
Views: 3

The Knutsford Sessions House is a former courthouse that is now The Courthouse Hotel located on Toft Road in Knutsford.

A blue plaque mounted on the wall of The Courthouse Hotel is inscribed as follows;

Town Council Coat of Arms
KNUTSFORD
SESSIONS HOUSE
Built in 1818,
designed by George Moneypenny

Quarter Sessions (later the Crown Court)
held in Knutsford since 1575 to 2010.
Knutsford Gaol, behind the Sessions
House, closed in 1914 and was
demolished in 1934.

KNUTSFORD TOWN COUNCIL



The Sessions Court House, formerly part of Knutsford Goal and now The Court House Hotel, is a Grade II* listed building. The description given by British Listed Buildings reads as follows;

"SJ 7478 KNUTSFORD TOFT ROAD
(West side)
792-1/3/114
Sessions House
15.12.1954
GV II*
Sessions House, formerly part of gaol, the cell blocks now demolished. 1815-1818. By George Moneypenny. The main block flanked by curtain walls screening court rooms to right, and caretaker's house to left. Single storey. Main block has central portico with paired Ionic columns carrying high parapet. Pedimented lantern over. Side wings each side divided to the left by pilasters into 3 bays, with caretaker's house occupying the northernmost bay, beyond an arched entrance to rear. Caretaker's house has doorway to right, and tripartite window to the left, with two 4-pane sash windows above. Similar screen wall to the right of the main block with raised roof of top-lit court room. 3 round-arched windows over segmentally-arched sashes each side of central canted bay in the rear of this range.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
Listing NGR: SJ7515778436"
SOURCE: (visit link)


Sessions House
"In August 1816 an advertisement placed in the Chester Chronicle sought the services of an architect for a New Sessions House, Grand Jury Room and other conveniences at Knutsford; and also for a gaol providing reception for 150 prisoners, with a dwelling house and suitable accommodation for a keeper.
George Moneypenny who was an experienced in design and in building prisons was appointed, and submitted an estimate for £30,814.

For the layout of the prison, Moneypenny adopted a variation on the pantoptican plan which was pioneered by William Blackburn, and used by Harrison in the layout of the Chester gaol."

"In 2010, the Ministry of Justice closed the Sessions House and moved judicial proceedings to the Courts in Crewe, leaving the magnificent 17th Century building empty.
Cheshire-based hospitality group Flat Cap Hotels acquired the property in February 2016 and work began in early 2017 on reinstating the magnificent building back into the community, allowing public access to building for the very first time. Flat Cap Hotels have been involved in the sensitive restoration of the former Knutsford Crown Court, one of the town’s most iconic and eye-catching buildings."
SOURCE: (visit link)


Knutsford County Gaol History: (visit link)
The Court House Hotel: (visit link)
(visit link)
Year Built: 1818

Current Use of Building: The Courthouse Hotel

Level of Courts: County

Architect: George Moneypenny

Dates this building was used to house judicial proceedings: 1818-2010

Related Website: [Web Link]

Physical Address: Not listed

Hours: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
At least one original photograph should be added to the gallery. And please describe your impressions and visit to the courthouse.
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Mike_bjm visited Former Courthouse - Knutsford Sessions House - Knutsford, Cheshire, UK 06/23/2019 Mike_bjm visited it