County Hall, Oxford


County Hall is a municipal building on New Road in Oxford, Oxfordshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The building, which was designed by John Plowman in the Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1841. It was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it also became the meeting place of Oxfordshire County Council. A modern facility, known as "New County Hall", was designed by the County Architect to accommodate the County Council's administrative staff and was built adjacent to the original building in the 1970s. The old building continued to be used as a courthouse until the new Crown and County Courts facility in St Aldate's was completed in 1986. Meetings of the County Council continue to be held in the council chamber at County Hall.