Dorchester’s Old Crown Court and Cells, famous for the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, is set to be transformed into a visitor attraction as part of Heritage Lottery Funding awarded to Shire Hall, in which they are housed.

West Dorset District Council has secured £69,000 of development funding to build plans to transform the Grade I listed Georgian property into a major visitor centre with exhibitions and educational resources.

It would be part of a proposed heritage quarter for the town, which the council hopes will attract more visitors to the area. The court is also prominent as author Thomas Hardy sat as a magistrate there.

The district council has owned Shire Hall since 1974 and will contribute £1m to the development.

If planning is approved a second round funding bid will be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund.