Description:Assize Judges, Mr Justice Pearson and Mr Justice Hallett are seen with a Police guard of honour as they enter St. Mary’s Collegiate Church for the service which traditionally preceded the opening of the Assizes at Stafford.
Assizes and Quarter Sessions were replaced in 1972 by the present system of Crown Courts. The Shire Hall continued to be used by Stafford Crown Court until 1991, when the new Combined Court building was opened on Victoria Square.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 10 March 1956. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.