Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

5.37 The City of London Courts of Justice Act 1815 26 repealed various statutes
relating to Blackwell Hall and the woollen cloth trade (spanning the years 1557 to
1714) and empowered the City corporation to demolish the chapel 27 and the
market buildings. The corporation was also authorised to acquire more land in the
vicinity, to sell off materials salvaged from the demolition, and to use the
proceeds of sale to construct new court accommodation and other buildings
necessary for public business.
5.38 The new courthouse was built around 1822 and courts sat there until 1885, at
which time the building was converted into the Guildhall Art Gallery. After
damage sustained during the Second World War the building was demolished to
make way for construction of Guildhall Yard East. The 1815 Act provisions are
therefore now spent.
GROUP 11 - LOUTH (IRELAND)
Dundalk county court
5.39 The grand jury for the county of Louth (today within the state of Ireland) formed
the view in 1813 that a new county court house should be built in Dundalk.
Appointed overseers contracted with a builder from Dublin to undertake the
project. By 1818, although substantial moneys had been paid out, progress was
slow and the public inconvenience was significant. The grand jury decided to
employ alternative builders and, by early 1819, the project was complete and the
court house was operational.
5.40 In 1820 the original builder (William Moore) obtained judgment in the Irish Court
of Common Pleas against the overseers for the unpaid balance of the contract
sum. However, the grand jury had insufficient funds to reimburse the overseers
for the sums owed, and needed parliamentary authority to raise moneys by
county levy.
5.41 The Louth County Court House Act 1821 28 provided that the Louth grand jury
could raise sufficient moneys by county levy to reimburse and indemnify the
overseers for their lawful expenditure, subject to examining the supporting
documentation. Any person who was deemed liable to pay the levy contribution
was entitled to contest the “presentment”.
5.42 The court house is still in use today but the purpose underpinning the 1821 Act
has long since been spent. Repeal of the Act will not affect its status in Ireland.
26 55 Geo. 3 c.xciii (1815).
27 Although the Guildhall chapel was to be demolished, the Act provided that two internal
monuments should be preserved and relocated to the St. Lawrence Jewry parish church,
and that the internal floor should be left undisturbed.
28 1 & 2 Geo.4 c.cxxiv (1821).
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