The Judges Retiring Room occupies 24 High Pavement in Nottingham city centre, within the Grade II* listed Shire Hall complex. Built in 1876 to designs by architect James Gandon and constructed by Joseph Pickford of Derby, the building served as the seat of judicial authority for Nottinghamshire. The room itself is part of a larger ensemble that includes the County Court to the east and the Civil Court to the west, each retaining their original Victorian fittings and fixtures from the 19th century.
Today the space functions as a museum operated under the Galleries of Justice brand, offering visitors access to the courtroom interiors and the material culture of 19th-century justice. The County Court to the east displays its complete wooden fittings of 1876 – the dock, jury box, judge’s throne and official seating – while the Civil Court features an octagonal arcade with marble columns, brass gas lamps, and a coffered ceiling lit by a central skylight. The museum is wheelchair accessible, though with limited facilities. The site stands opposite the former County Gaol, making it central to understanding Nottingham’s role in English legal history.