The structure, which used to be the main courthouse for the north of Parts of Holland, is a Grade II* listed building.

The site they selected, just to the north of St Botolph's Church, had been occupied by an Augustine priory.

[2] The new building was the designed by Charles Kirk from Sleaford, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £10,000 and was officially opened on 17 October 1843.

The bays were separated by buttresses surmounted by statues of lions and, at roof level, there was a crenellated parapet which was decorated by a panel bearing the Royal coat of arms.

[7][8] Works to convert the prison cells in the sessions house into a gym were initiated in February 2020.