Launch of the Court House 300 Display and Timeline
On 2nd September, a display marking the tercentenary of the Warwick Court House was opened in the Visitor Centre by the Mayor, Cllr. Jackie Darcy. After cutting a ribbon at the main door, she unveiled a Timeline in the front corridor showing significant events since 1725 when Francis Smith began constructing the building.
The Unlocking Warwick’ volunteers had spent some months researching the history of the building. The display boards are themed to show the building’s use as a Magistrates’ Court, a centre for social activities, and a wartime military office, with details of its construction, its importance as a central meeting place, and its activities today.
The Timeline will be a permanent fixture telling visitors and residents the Court House’s role in Warwick’s history over the past 300 years.
The tercentenary event was attended by town councillors, the town hall team, volunteers and members of the ancient Court Leet that kept law and order in the town for four centuries.
The Mayor, Cllr. Jackie Darcy, said, “The 300th anniversary is certainly a moment to celebrate this impressive building and to reflect on what Warwick looked like in 1725 when Francis Smith began construction of the Court House. The population of the town then was about 3,000; now it is 37,000 and growing.
Class divisions were very stark back then, illustrated by the purpose and function of the building. It was very much a story of ‘upstairs/downstairs’. One function was entertainment, largely for the affluent of Warwick and its surrounding areas. Sumptuous balls and society events were held in the ballroom upstairs. Whereas downstairs magistrates dealt with crimes that were mostly associated with poverty, such as vagrancy, petty theft and drunkenness, with felons sent to the House of Correction or threatened with deportation!”
The Mayor thanked designer Dianne Loftus who had formatted the Timeline, the Visitor Information team who had put together the display boards, and the researchers from ‘Unlocking Warwick’.
On October 5th at 2pm in the ballroom, on the final day of the Warwick Words History Festival, there will be an illustrated presentation about the story of the Court House, with special guests and a chance to see the town maces up close. To book tickets go to www.warwickwords.co.uk