Assize court. Northampton Sessions House.
The main court room of Northampton Sessions House, below which were cells and above which was the elaborate plasterwork ceiling of Edward Goudge, Chief Plasterer to Christopher Wren. The court room was used for its original purpose from 1678 until 1991.
Here were tried the more serious criminal cases, when a circuit judge would arrive from London. The last two women to be hanged in England accused of witchcraft would have been tried in this room in 1705 - Elinor Shaw and Mary Phillips of Oundle.
Here too was tried, according to a report in the local press, before Mr Justice Coleridge at the Lent Assizes of 1851, one of my own relatives ; Thomas Skinner, a stone mason and brother of my great, great grandfather. Accused of highway robbery, he was sentenced to five months hard labour.
Young Thomas, no doubt having taken the chance to slake the notorious stone mason's thirst, was walking home from the pub in Nassington when he and a companion relieved an acquaintance of a small amount of money. Unfortunately one of Thomas's brothers and the father of the other accused, returned the money to the rightful owner next day and thus confirmed the guilt of the parties on trial.
Assize court. Northampton Sessions House.
The main court room of Northampton Sessions House, below which were cells and above which was the elaborate plasterwork ceiling of Edward Goudge, Chief Plasterer to Christopher Wren. The court room was used for its original purpose from 1678 until 1991.
Here were tried the more serious criminal cases, when a circuit judge would arrive from London. The last two women to be hanged in England accused of witchcraft would have been tried in this room in 1705 - Elinor Shaw and Mary Phillips of Oundle.
Here too was tried, according to a report in the local press, before Mr Justice Coleridge at the Lent Assizes of 1851, one of my own relatives ; Thomas Skinner, a stone mason and brother of my great, great grandfather. Accused of highway robbery, he was sentenced to five months hard labour.
Young Thomas, no doubt having taken the chance to slake the notorious stone mason's thirst, was walking home from the pub in Nassington when he and a companion relieved an acquaintance of a small amount of money. Unfortunately one of Thomas's brothers and the father of the other accused, returned the money to the rightful owner next day and thus confirmed the guilt of the parties on trial.