Old Sessions House
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The former Middlesex Sessions House or the Old Sessions House is a large building on Clerkenwell Green in the London Borough of Islington in London, England, built in 1780 as the seat of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The building was commissioned to replace Hicks Hall as the home of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions: Hicks Hall had opened in 1612 and had stepped into many of the lesser functions of the Old Bailey before being demolished in 1782. (Wikipedia)
The Old Sessions House today
Old Sessions House offers a very special opportunity for an occupier to be truly inspired by their surroundings, with special views over Clerkenwell Green. There is 18843 square feet of rejuvenated space available in this unique former courthouse, which dominates Clerkenwell Green on an island site. The building has undergone a full, sympathetic refurbishment to provide one of central London’s truly rare opportunities.
Since the building’s completion a wide range of events have also been held on site such as the Autumn 2017 Burberry fashion show and art exhibition, Dezeen awards 2019 and Elle decoration awards to name a few.
Clerkenwell 101
39 The Old Sessions House (or The Middlesex Sessions House, as it was originally known) dominates the western side of Clerkenwell Green. It was built around 1780 and was the location of Charles Dickens’ early employment as a junior writer, reporting on court cases. Subsequently, he wove the location into his novels and this where Oliver Twist was tried after being caught stealing a pocket watch on Clerkenwell Green. It earned a reputation for harsh sentencing. A 78-year-old woman once received seven years for stealing a joint of meat. A 20-year sentence was not unknown for stealing a pair of boots. Stocks were positioned on the nearby green, where drunkards were placed to be ridiculed by the public. In one year alone, 200 convicts were transported to Australia, and scores of prisoners were sent from its dungeon to their deaths before it finally closed as a magistrates’ court in the 1920s.
Wikipedia
Middlesex Sessions House - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Middlesex Sessions House - Wikipedia • en.wikipedia.org
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