Central Police Station, Magistrates Court And Fire Station

Central Police Station, Magistrates Court, and Fire Station, built in 1931-33. Designed by Cackett, Burns Dick & Mackellar, the building is constructed with a steel frame, rusticated Portland stone, and brick cladding, representing a Baroque Revival style. It rises to four and five stories, including a basement and attic.

The Market Street facade, facing north, features a thirteen-window front with a central entrance leading to the Magistrates Court. The entrance has double glazed doors and an overlight with fish-scale glazing, set within a flat moulded granite surround topped with a coat-of-arms. Flanking the entrance are small windows with bronze bars, followed by five windows with glazing bars. Above, the facade mirrors this design. A central blind section above is topped by a plain parapet, supported by ten giant Corinthian columns and a deep entablature. A chamfered corner section of the police station has a similar entrance with recessed windows either side; above is an ornate projecting balcony and a tall window framed by giant Corinthian columns. The entablature above bears the date AD MCMXXXI AD. A flagpole is positioned on the parapet.

The Pilgrim Street facade is similar to the Market Street front, but incorporates seven late 20th-century doors for fire engine garages, all within a flat granite surround. Above are recessed Corinthian columns with windows between them on the upper floors.

The Worswick Street facade is more irregular, with a stone-faced basement and ground floor, while the upper floors are brick with stone banding. The inner courtyard contains a three-story central building and a seven-story hose drying tower, with cells attached to the Magistrates Court.

The interior of the two almost identical Magistrates Courts features Classical style oak panelling, raised seating for the magistrates, a dock, witness box, lawyer's seating, and a public gallery. The ceilings are coffered with original brass light fittings, and the doors are panelled. The Magistrates’ anti-chamber has similar plaster panelling, pilasters, and oak panel doors. The entrance foyer to the courts is lined with imitation stone and plasterwork, and features original light fittings and doors. The former Police Chief Constable’s office and outer office retain classical panelling, doors, and plaster ceilings. The Police Station entrance retains original glazed wooden double doors with pilaster surrounds, and the internal foyer features pairs of Egyptian-style columns supporting a curved frieze.