The splendid Great Hall of Oakham Castle is one of the finest examples of late 12th century domestic architecture in England.
The castle was the residence of the lord of the manor of Oakham. Sometimes the king held the manor himself and visited the castle. By the early 16th century many of the buildings were ruinous. However the Great Hall continued in use as a courtroom, the hub of both the manor of Oakham and County of Rutland. Assize courts were held here until 1970. Today, occasional Crown Courts and Coroner's Inquests still take place.