[2] One of the most notorious cases heard in the first shire court was the trial of Mary Morgan who, in 1805, was convicted and hanged for killing her newborn child.

[3][4] For some time after the execution, it was claimed the father of the murdered child was Walter Wilkins the Younger, the son of the member of parliament and high sheriff of the county and the "young squire" of Maesllwch Castle.

[1] The shire hall was used as accommodation for the quarter sessions and for the regular assizes but it was also used as a venue for concert performances and mess functions organised by the Royal Radnor Militia.

[10] The shire hall in Preseigne continued to be used as a judicial facility for most of the 20th century: the last assizes were held in the building in 1970 and the last magistrates' court hearing took place in 1990.

[7] Following an extensive programme of refurbishment works, which involved the restoration of part of the interior of the building to recreate the judge's lodging in its original form, the shire hall was reopened by the actor, Robert Hardy, on 24 May 1997.