Chester Magistrates Court

Chester Magistrates Court is a magistrates' court and offices that were formerly part of the King's School, which included the Cathedral Choir School. Built between 1875 and 1877 by Sir Arthur Blomfield, the building is constructed of reddish buff sandstone and features a brown clay tile roof.

The exterior is two storeys high and consists of seven bays. The main range reflects the design of a Tudor hall, with the great hall located on the upper storey. Architectural details include a moulded plinth, buttresses, moulded stringcourses, and an arched doorway with a two-light mullioned overlight. The windows, which are mullioned and transomed, consist of two and three lights, with all glazing facing Northgate Street being leaded. The south bay projects slightly and is supported by side-buttresses, while gargoyles and a crenellated parapet add to the decorative elements. The end gables are coped, and red terracotta ridge-tiles feature conical-roofed vents.

On the gable-end facing St Werburgh Street, there is a two-light mullioned and transomed window on the lower storey and a five-light panel-traceried upper window set under a four-centre arch. The magistrates' court wing connects to the cathedral via an east wing that is part of the same design and now houses Barclays Bank on St Werburgh Street.

Inside, the courtroom and an interview room overlook Northgate Street and feature nine-panel pine doors in heavy frames with finials. The interior includes boarding below a dado-rail, decorated chamfered main beams, and plaster ceiling panels. A corridor with leaded lights leads to Abbey Square and contains a stone basket archway that opens to a dogleg stone stair with winders at the turn, complemented by an oak handrail on ornate iron balusters. The upper rooms were not inspected.