Historic Cambridgeshire Home with Courtroom and Prison Cells Lists for £800,000

A unique nine-bedroom property in Cambridgeshire, known as The Old Courthouse, has been listed for sale at £800,000. The historic building in Linton served multiple functions, including as a police station, magistrates court, and local prison.

The property, originally a police station as of September 1855, retains many of its original architectural elements. One of the former prison cells remains intact, complete with its original toilet, wall inscriptions dating back to 1821, and original flooring. A second cell has been converted into a bathroom while maintaining its original structure. The former courtroom features a vaulted ceiling, original flooring, and large sash windows.

During its time as a magistrates court, the building handled numerous cases of minor offenses. Historical records mention cases such as Robert Swann in 1865, a labourer sentenced to three months of hard labor for assaulting his mother with a dung fork, and Eugene Stamp, a trainee teacher given a 14-day jail term for throwing a stone at a train.

In 1857, Charles Whittaker, a 30-year-old labourer, was sentenced to four years of transportation to Australia for stealing 25 pounds of brass from his employer. As a police station, the building was the hub of the Linton division of Cambridgeshire police, overseeing more than 20 local parishes. It was built for £1,040 and staffed by 10 officers.

The police station closed in 1958 with the opening of the Cambridge Road police station, but the magistrates court continued to operate until the 1970s before the entire structure was converted into a residential home.

The current owners purchased The Old Courthouse in 1993 and have since focused on preserving its historical character. The residence now spans over 4,000 square feet and includes two kitchens, a large lobby, the former courtroom, a separate sitting room, a dining room, and an integral garage on the ground floor. The first floor comprises seven bedrooms and four bathrooms. The property is situated around a courtyard garden, with a lawned area extending towards the River Granta.

The home is being sold by the widow and son of Robert Williams, one of the founders of Unipalm, which later became Pipex, the first British internet provider in 1992.

Merrick Williams, the son of the late owner, shared his perspective on the property. He noted that his parents were attracted to Linton for its village character and community feel, combined with practical village amenities. "The house itself was another matter entirely. There was simply nothing else quite like it," Merrick said. "Its history, architecture and rather extraordinary collection of spaces made it feel less like an ordinary house and more like a small piece of the village's story."

Merrick, who was not born when his parents bought the house, expressed his childhood fascination with its unique spaces, particularly the courtroom and cells. He has lived in the property at various times and currently resides there during the sale process, attributing his appreciation for history and architecture to his time in the building.

He also highlighted the garden's unusual connection to the River Granta, offering a sense of privacy and a connection to the countryside despite its village location. "I think that combination is what makes the house particularly special: it is deeply rooted in Linton's history, but it is also a genuinely interesting and enjoyable place to live," he stated.

Merrick and his wife are selling the property as they plan to relocate to the US to start a new chapter in their lives. He expressed hope that the future owners will appreciate the building's practical qualities, history, and distinctive character.