Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury SY2 6LY
Architect Ralph Vernon Crowe 1966
Having photographed the exterior of Shirehall – I am now sharing some images of the buildings remarkable interior.
These have images have been kindly provided by the Shrewsbury Civic Society – many thanks.
They have campaigned tirelessly to save the building which is under threat, the local authority wishing to demolish the site.
There has long been a split in Shropshire Council between councillors who want to keep Shirehall and this that want to demolish it and move to the town centre. Last December, the council agreed to dispose of the building in the next few years after work on Civic Hub in the town centre is completed. That Civic Hub is still in the ideas stage and there is no clear idea of where the money will come fund it. Unless the council sells the 3.5 hectare Shirehall site for housing boosting its capital reserves which were depleted by the £51m purchase of the shopping centres in Shrewsbury town centre.
The budget plans agreed two weeks ago days propose that Shirehall is sold before April 2025 to make a saving of £325,000 in 2024/25.
Here are the Civic Society photographs of the Courts, which are no longer in use.
These are archival images taken from RIBApix taken by Bill Toomey in 1967.
Modern Mooch 