Shire Hall in Dorchester was Dorset's centre of law, order and government for over 200 years - a place where all sectors of society interacted. The trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs that took place here in 1834 changed the course of history and helped shape the society in which we live today. Later, the writer Thomas Hardy served as a magistrate at the court, an experience that inspired some of his writing. Shire Hall is a rare architectural gem. It is one of the best preserved buildings of its kind and remains almost unchanged since it first opened in 1797. Shire Hall has been transformed into a major social justice-focused heritage attraction and centre for learning. We run many activities, exhibitions and events that will engage, inform and entertain people with the fascinating history of this building, and use that history as a springboard to consider how justice works and affects us all today.