'Minutes of Proceedings of the Commissioners for erecting the County Hall, Lincoln'

At front, a printed copy of the Act to enable the Justices of the Peace for the divisions of Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland, in the county of Lincoln, to rebuild the County Hall, 3 Geo. 4. The Act appoints 14 commissioners (7 for Lindsey, 4 for Kesteven and 3 for Holland), who shall be nominated by their respective quarter sessions, to enter into contracts for carrying out the intended works. The divisions, on receiving certificates from the commissioners, are bound to raise their proportions of the necessary funds. The commissioners may also borrow on the credit of the county rates. On completion of the work the commissioners to report both to the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster and to the annual general magistrates' meeting (or a general meeting at the next assizes). The new county hall to be vested in the sheriff, custos, rotulorum and magistrates, subject to the duchy of Lancaster lease; the magistrates however to be enabled to purchase the castle if they wish

f. 1. First meeting of commissioners, County Hall, 9 Aug. 1822. Brownlow (chairman), Dymoke, Sheffield, Heron, Illingworth, Charles Chaplin, W.A. Johnson, Ellison, Mundy, Duggan, Tunnard and the Revd William Moore. [Robert Cracroft and F.J.B. Dashwood absent.]

William Forbes appointed clerk, and Smith, Ellison and Co. treasurers. Smirke to contract for stone at once, and Forbes to advertise for contractors for the masons' work as soon as he hears from Smirke. The commissioners for the judges' lodgings to be asked if future meetings can be held there

f. 4 v. 26 Sept. 1822. Tender of George Willoughby of Walton for masons' work accepted on Smirke's advice. £4,000 to be raised by the county and paid into the bankers

f. 7v. 30 Oct. 1822. Francis Chaplin appointed a commissioner in place of Robert Cracroft

Copy of George Willoughby's tender

Other tenders chosen

f. 20v. 15 July 1823. Brownlow (chairman), Dymoke, Heron, C. and F. Chaplin, Johnson and Dashwood

[No Holland representatives.]

Brackenbury's parliamentary bill of £485. 3. 9. discharged

A letter from Smirke about the delay and expense occasioned by the depth and irregularity of the foundations

A further £4,500 to be raised by the county

f. 23. Adjourned meeting, 22 Oct. 1823 Chaplin (chairman), Dymoke, Tunnard, Francis Chaplin and Duggan

A further £4,500 to be raised

f. 23 v. 9 Mar. 1824

The Revd. John Nelson succeeds the Revd. Archdeacon Illingworth decd

Smirke reports that the walls should reach roof height by June. He still hopes to stay within his original estimate of £20,000, plus an extra £855 for the foundations

With legal and other additional expenses the commissioners envisage a total cost to the county of £23,000. Another £4,500 to be raised, to become payable in October

f. 25 v. 7 Jan. 1825

Smirke reports that the interior decoration of the building will soon be commenced

A further £4,500 to be raised

Balance sheet copied out

f. 28 v. 7 Oct. 1825

A debtors' yard to be constructed, to save the necessity for putting an iron pallisade around the county hall

f. 29v. 6 Jan. 1826. Accounts examined

f. 30 7 Mar. 1826 (Tuesday of assize week). Smirke attends to deal with minor problems arising from the first use of the building by the courts. The commissioners recommend to the gaol sessions the appointment of persons to keep order within the building during the assizes Smirks to proceed with the fitting up of the grand jury room, etc. William Webb, the surveyor of works, to prepare an inventory

f. 32. 6 Oct. 1826

Brownlow disapproves of the chairs provided for the grand jury room, and more dignified ones are ordered

f. 33v. 13 Mar. 1827 (Tuesday in assize week)

Statements of accounts received, and a further £2,500 ordered to be raised

f. 37. 3 July 1828. Sir R. Heron (chairman), C. and F. Chaplin, Duggan and Nelson

f. 39v. 2 Oct. 1828

The Revd. H.B. Facey appointed in place of Duggan (resigned)

f. 41. Adjourned meeting, 28 Oct. 1828. Brownlow (chairman), C. Chaplin, Johnson, F. Chaplin and Nelson

Smirks's final account and report received. (Total of £24,239. 17. 4.)

Copy of commissioners' Report entered in the minutes, together with a copy of the inventory

f. 48v. General meeting of the county magistrates, 9 Mar. 1830, chairman Sir E.F. Bromhead, at which the Report was delivered, and the building handed over by the commissioners to the County. Balance of £40. 3. 11. transferred to gaol account