[1] The current building was commissioned to replace an ageing 16th century sessions house at the north end of the High Street which hosted the quarter sessions and which had been supplemented by a smaller building which hosted the nisi prius court.

[2] The new building, which was designed by John Johnson in the classical style with a Portland stone façade, opened in July 1791.

[1][3] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Tindal Square; the central section of three bays, which projected slightly forward, featured three arched entrances on the ground floor which were originally open; there were three windows on the first floor interspersed with Ionic order columns supporting a large pediment containing a clock.

[4] In 1856, after a crowd entered the building to attend a trial of five men charged with murder while poaching, the staircase collapsed killing one youth and seriously injuring four others.

[11][12] Works of art in Shire Hall include three statues of classical female figures by the sculptor, John Bacon,[13] as well as chimney pieces at either end of the assembly hall containing panels carved by Charles Rossi.