National Justice Museum facts for kids
The National Justice Museum in 2010
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| Former name | Galleries of Justice Museum |
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| Established | 1995 |
| Location | The Lace Market, Nottingham |
| Collection size | HM Prison Service collection |
| Public transit access | Bus, tram, train |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Shire Hall and Adjoining County Gaol | |
| Designated: | 24 October 1988 |
| Reference #: | 1254517 |
The National Justice Museum is a super interesting place in Nottingham, England. It used to be called the Galleries of Justice Museum.
This museum is special because it's located in a real old Victorian courtroom, prison, and police station. Imagine, this historic building is where people were once arrested, tried, and held! The courtrooms have been here since the 1300s, and the prison since at least 1449.
The building itself is very old and important, recognized as a Grade II* listed building. The museum is also a charity, which means it works to educate people.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The Museum's History
How it All Started
People have used this spot for official business for a very long time. The Normans, who ruled England centuries ago, used to have sheriffs here to keep the peace and collect taxes. That's why it was sometimes called the Sheriff's Hall.
The first time we know for sure it was used as a law court was in 1375. And the first mention of it being a prison was in 1449. That's over 500 years ago!
Changes in the 1700s
Over many years, the courts and prison grew bigger. In 1724, something dramatic happened: the courtroom floor actually collapsed! Luckily, most people weren't badly hurt, but it caused a big scare.
The hall was rebuilt between 1769 and 1772. A famous architect named James Gandon helped design the new building. If you look closely at the top of the building, you can still see an inscription that says it was built in 1770.
The 1800s and Beyond
More parts were added to the building in the early 1800s. Judges got their own rooms, and lawyers had places to get ready.
For a while, this building was also a place where some public executions happened. The last public execution here was in 1864. After that, executions were no longer public.
In 1876, there were big plans to make the front of the building look new and fancy. But just a few weeks later, a fire broke out and almost destroyed all the new work! The courts had to be rebuilt after the fire. The prison part of the building closed in 1878.
Later, the building became the meeting place for the Nottinghamshire County Council, which helps run the local area.
From Courts to Museum Today
In 1905, a police station was built next to the main building. The County Council moved to a new, bigger building in 1954. The Shire Hall continued to be used for courts until 1991.
Finally, in 1995, the building opened as the Galleries of Justice Museum. It was updated and renamed the National Justice Museum in 2017. Today, it still has two courtrooms, an underground jail, and the historic site where executions took place.
What You Can See: Exhibitions
The museum has a "Crime Gallery" with lots of fun activities for families. You can find interactive exhibits that teach you all about crime and punishment through history. It even has the actual dock (where the accused person stands) from a famous old court called Bow Street Magistrates' Court.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Nottingham (Bridge ward)
