Police Station

BLYTH BRIDGE STREET NZ 3181 NE (South side) 10/36 Police Station GV II Police station, 1896, by John Cresswell, the County Architect. Red brick in Flemish bond with ashlar dressings and carved red sandstone panels; Lakeland slate roofs with terracotta ridges and finials, wrought-iron rails and wooden belfry with leaded fleche. Irregular F-plan with convergent ranges to rear. Free Gothic style.

Front in 3 sections. Centre 3 storeys, 5 bays, symmetrical. Plinth, moulded strings, carved panels below windows. 3 steps up to central panelled double doors with lion bosses, flanked by black marble piers carrying carved lintel with chained mastiffs and panel inscribed 'POLICE STATION'. Circular carved panel with date and County Council arms under gable. Bays at each side set back at 1st floor level and flanked by octagonal turrets with pyramid caps. Slightly lower end bays have shafted doorways with lintels inscribed MAGISTRATES (left) and SOLICITORS (right). Steep hipped roof with gabled dormers and central octagonal belfry with openwork sides and panelled spire.

Right part 3 storeys, 4 bays; right bay set forward with corbelled-out angle turrets and octagonal pavilion roof with dormers and decorative balcony rails. Right corner canted back, with oriel; 8-bay right return with 2 similar projecting bays. Plainer left part 2 storeys, 5 irregular bays; 2nd bay set forward with corbelled-out angle turrets and pavilion roof. Above and behind, lofty square ventilation tower had corbelled-out stage with angle turrets and pedimented gables, below octagonal upper shaft with moulded cap. To left attached moulded gate piers with gabled caps hold diagonally-boarded double doors.

Paired windows with shouldered, arched and cusped heads; much carved detail. Openwork and arcaded parapets. Tall stepped-and-corniced stacks.

Interior: Several stairs with wrought-iron balustrades. Courtroom has coved canopy with pediment over tribunal, and collar-beam roof on chevron-carved corbels. Magistrates' retiring room (now Courtroom No. 2) has carved mantelpiece and panelled plaster ceiling. Contemporary stained glass.

Listing NGR: NZ3179981546