A
county hall or
shire hall is a common name given to a building housing a
county's
administration. The location of the county hall has usually denoted the
county town, and as county halls have moved it has also been considered that the county town has moved, for example when Derbyshire County Council moved from
Derby to
Matlock in the 1950s. As important government buildings, many county halls are known for their distinctive
architecture. Some county halls are historic buildings at the heart of the town, whilst others are more modern office building in suburban locations. Many buildings which have lost their administrative function have retained the name county hall for historic reasons, such as
County Hall, London.