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The Old Court House, is a judicial building in St Peter's Square in
The current building was built to replace an earlier structure, owned by the de Grey family, was notable for being the first building to be attacked at the outset of
Ruthin
Ruthin ( ; cy, Rhuthun) is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales, in the south of the Vale of Clwyd. It is Denbighshire's county town. The town, castle and St Peter's Square lie on a hill, skirted by villages such as Pwllglas and ...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
, North Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. It is a Grade II* listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
.
History
The current building was built to replace an earlier structure, owned by the de Grey family, was notable for being the first building to be attacked at the outset of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...
's revolt
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
on 6 September 1400. The new building was completed in 1421 and served as the courthouse until 1663 when the town hall was built on the square.
The building was the local administrative centre, court, and gaol. Visible within are fine old roof timbers, and on the north-west outside corner is the stump of a gallows beam. The courthouse and cells remained in use until 1785 when the new shire hall was built in Record Street. Ruthin could claim to be a county town under the Acts of Union passed during the reign of Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
, with the appropriate meetings of the Court Quarter Sessions and the Great Sessions (or ''assizes'') being held in the town.
The old court house was also in commercial use during the 18th century: in 1741 a petition was raised by butchers of the town and given to the owner Richard Myddleton complaining their meat was exposed to all elements of weather. This resulted in the building of “the shambles” a lean-to on the north face of the building (Welsh: ''Pendist'') a two-storey construction, photos show three dormer windows set into the roof. The butchers earned extra income by offering grandstand seating on the roof for views of the bear-baiting
Bear-baiting is a blood sport in which a chained bear and one or more dogs are forced to fight one another. It may also involve pitting a bear against another animal.
History Europe Great Britain
Bear-baiting was very popular from the 12th ...
which took place on the Square. In the 19th century it served as a grocery: "Aldrich's Grocery and Hardware Stores". Then, in 1926 it was converted into a branch of the National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank, commonly known as NatWest, is a major retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom based in London, England. It was established in 1968 by the merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank. In 2000, it ...
to the design of Frank Shayler
Frank Hearn Shayler (1867–1954) was a Shrewsbury-based architect who worked in an Arts and Crafts style. He was in partnership with Thomas Ridge, and they also had offices in Oswestry and Welshpool.
Career
Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, son o ...
and served in that role until its closure in 2017.
See also
*Siop Nain
Siop Nain is a Grade II Listed Building situated near the centre of Ruthin, Denbighshire and dates back to 1490. From 1850 Isaac Clarke used a building at the back as a print shop, which is most notable for the first printing of the National Anthe ...
* Ruthin Town Hall
References
{{Authority control Buildings and structures completed in 1401 Grade II* listed buildings in Denbighshire Ruthin