The Shire Hall was completed in 1791 to replace the less impressive 16th century session house. The previous building was the scene of many trials of some 250 witches by the infamous ‘Witch Hunter General’ Matthew Hopkins. The Shire Hall was built to the design of the then County Surveyor of Essex, John Johnson, who built many fine mansions and public buildings in this county as well as London and elsewhere. The main building has remained substantially the same throughout 200 years of Chelmsford’s history, with public courts of justice still held on the ground floor.

The County Room is as splendid as the day it was first decorated. This ‘regency’ style room once boasted a minstrel’s gallery used to entertain the great and the good of Essex during many fine balls and banquets.

However some internal remodelling took place in the 1930s and the resultant ‘art deco’ style of that period is much in evidence especially in the picture room, the main staircase and foyer. The regency and art deco styles compliment each other and offer an intriguing mix of architectural features.