HALL is also particularly used for a court of justice; or an edifice wherein there is one or more tribunals.
In Westminster-hall are held the great courts of England, viz. the king's bench, chancery, common pleas, and exchequer. In adjoining apartments is likewise held the high court of parliament.
Westminster-hall was the royal palace or place of residence of our ancient kings; who ordinarily held their parliaments, and courts of judicature, in their dwelling-houses (as is still done by the kings of Spain), and frequently sat in person in the courts of judicature, as they still do in parliament. A great part of this palace was burnt under Henry VIII. what remains is still reserved for the said judicatures. The great hall, wherein the courts of king's bench, &c. are kept, is said to have been built by William Rufus; others say by Richard I. or II. It is reckoned superior, in point of dimensions, to any hall in Europe; being 300 feet long and 100 broad.