Malicious Damage Act, 1861

Setting fire to any public building.

5. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously set fire to any building, other than such as are in this Act before mentioned, belonging to the Queen, or to any county, riding, division, city, borough, poor law union, parish, or place, or belonging to any university, or college or hall of any university, or to any inn of court, or devoted or dedicated to public use or ornament, or erected or maintained by public subscription or contribution, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for life, . . . or to be imprisoned and, . . . if a male under the age of sixteen years, with or without whipping.