Imagine a time when justice and confinement shared the same walls here at Roskilde Ting- og Arresthus. This building has stood since 1878. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to Roskilde’s legal and social history.
Roskilde Ting- og Arresthus originally known as Roskilde Thing- og Arresthuus was designed by Professor Vilhelm Petersen in a striking neo-Gothic style. For many years this was the place where legal proceedings and imprisonment happened under one roof. The Roskilde Ting- og Arresthus served as a combined courthouse and jail. It also housed the judge’s office for Voldborg Tune and Ramsø herreder as well as Roskilde Stad.
Back then the ground floor held courtrooms. Upstairs were prison cells. Imagine the tension in the halls as defendants awaited their hearings. The solid brick walls echo with the weight of decisions made within. In 1954 the judge’s office relocated. It moved to a building in Kornerups Vænge. That building later housed the police station until 2007. The Roskilde Ting- og Arresthus continued its function for preliminary hearings and as a jail.
Later in 1963 the judicial district split. A city court district and a district court emerged. The city court established offices in an existing office building in Støden. Then in 1976 it moved to Helligkorsvej. Despite these changes the old ting- og arresthus remained in use for preliminary hearings and as a prison. Today the old courthouse serves as a volunteer center. The rear section still functions as a jail. Roskilde Arrest has capacity for 25 inmates. This makes it a medium-sized jail within the Prison Service.
Before this building was erected a Galgebakken or gallows hill stood here. Construction began in 1876 once the ground thawed. The grand opening took place on May 28 1878. The town’s elite attended the celebration. In 1920 the jailer’s residence was repurposed. It was above the connecting building. It made room for civil and criminal judges. The conversion preserved the building’s architectural style.
In 2014 Roskilde Municipality purchased Tinghuset from the State. The purpose was to create a community space for the town’s residents. The building underwent extensive renovations. These updates respected its historical architecture. Today Frivilligcenter Roskilde is located here. It brings a breath of fresh air to this neo-Gothic building.
The neo-Gothic style reflects a 19th-century revival. It draws inspiration from the Gothic period. Examples include the British Parliament and Tower Bridge in London. The style also appears in older skyscrapers in New York and Chicago.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and purpose embodied in Roskilde Ting- og Arresthus. From its origins as a place of justice and confinement to its current role as a community hub this building continues to serve Roskilde.