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The Moot Hall
The MOOT HALL has dominated Maldon's High Street for hundreds of years.
Originally built in the fifteenth century for the D'Arcy family by Sir Robert D'Arcy who was a Royal official in the County of Essex and M.P. for Maldon in 1423. This historic building had been the centre of local government since 1576 when it was purchased for the sum of £55 by the Corporation of Maldon.
It is believed that the tower was intended to form part of a much larger house. In 1539, it was described as Master D'Arcy's chief mansion. The building remained the Moot Hall of the local authority until 1974 when, with local government re-organisation, the ancient borough of Maldon became part of the new Maldon District Council.
The original brickwork is visible above the ninteenth century portico which was added during restoration in 1810. The clock and its five bells were presented to the town by John Courtold, the last M.P. of the borough in 1881. The ground floor room shows the original medieval brickwork on three walls and was used as a police station in 1863 until the new police station was built in West Square in the early 1900's.
The showpiece of the Moot Hall is the Newell staircase which is a fine example of the medieval bricklayers art. This spiral staicase is made entirely of brickwork including the built in hand rail and is rather unusual as it spirals anti-clockwise.
If you wish to view this 15th century building featuring medieval spiral brick staircase and 18th century courtroom plus panoramic views from the roof across the Blackwater Estuary you can join a guided tour. See themoothall.co.uk for details
