Follow in judges’ footsteps by staying at Welsh border museum’s apartments

You no longer need to be a judge to stay at the award-winning The Judge’s Lodging museum in Presteigne.

Now you can follow in the footsteps of judges, who presided over the criminal court in the small Powys-Herefordshire border town as far back as 1829, thanks to a six-year project.

Last weekend, the museum welcomed stakeholders and local residents to the official opening of two new holiday apartments, following years of planning, fundraising and constructing The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging.

A pair of luxurious flats have been created on the first floor of the Grade 2* Georgian Shire Hall, an important heritage attraction and community resource in the Mid Wales border country. 

The Judge’s Lodging was called ‘the most commodious and elegant apartments for a judge in all England and Wales’ by Lord Chief Justice Campbell in 1855.

Judges presided over the court in Presteigne until the 1971 Spring Assizes and the Judge’s Marshall on that occasion attended the weekend unveiling of the new apartments.

What was once the housekeeper’s apartments have been transformed into quirky and extremely comfortable holiday accommodation, retaining many of the original features of the building. A wonderful wonky door has been made to allow original beams to remain in place, creating a feature to really chuckle at.

Visitors will experience a gloriously rich colour scheme, original artworks, light fittings to match the well-known gas and oil lighting of the museum itself, stunning views over rooftops and Stapleton Castle. 

They will even be surrounded by original furnishings used by the visiting judges and housekeepers.

The project was supported by generous funding from the UK Government Community Ownership Fund, the Welsh Government, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The transformation work was led over the last year by specialist heritage builders, Reynolds Conservation Ltd, who were joined by local craftsmen and businesses to create the interiors.

Diane Gwilt, The Judge’s Lodging Trustees chair, said: “I am delighted to have been part of a team who have worked so hard to bring this exciting and innovative project to completion.

“We have used local contractors wherever possible, and the finish of the work is excellent. Income from The Retiring Rooms will support the continued operation of our award-winning museum here in Presteigne and help secure the future of this wonderful place.”

The project didn’t stop there – funding also allowed for a re-landscaped back garden area to accommodate a disabled parking bay for all visitors and a new disabled lift to allow those with mobility issues to get comfortably to the museum entrance. 

There’s even a new back gate, designed especially to look like an old-fashioned cell door!

The Retiring Rooms will become available for bookings from late April throughwww.holidaycottages.co.uk/ and there will be a link to the site from the museum’s own website at www.judgeslodging.org.uk/

The Retiring Rooms will become available for bookings from late April through www.holidaycottages.co.uk/ and there will be a link to the site from the museum’s own website at www.judgeslodging.org.uk/ .

The Judge’s Lodging is a member of MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism), an independent, not for profit organisation representing around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Meirionnydd.