Sessions Court

BIRKENHEAD

SJ3288NE CHESTER STREET 789-1/14/45 (North West side) 28/03/74 Sessions Court

GV II

Sessions Court. Dated 1885-1887. By T.D.Barry and Son. Ashlar-faced, roof not seen. Enriched classical style, with entrance elevation to Chester Street comprising high basement, and principal storey of 3 bays with advanced outer bays and continuous colonnade. Central bay has entrance in rusticated basement, paired doors with low relief panels dated 1887 in architrave with foliate swags and rosettes and caryatids, flanked by 2 windows each side. Corinthian order to paired pilasters and columns of principal storey with heavy modillion cornice and alternating panels and balustrading to parapet over. Paired Corinthian shafts carrying segmental pediment over mullioned and transomed window in advanced outer bays, with low relief figures over. Tripartite window behind the collonade over, and 3 oculi above. 2 lantern towers each side of central bay with cast-iron screens to segmental arches and pedimented cap are linked by high parapet with free-standing sculpted figures. Return elevations have 3 square-headed windows to ground floor, ornate pedimented heads to tripartite windows of first floor. Lower rear ranges to Mortimer and Brandon Streets of 7 recessed bays with central door in concave moulded architrave, 2-pane sash windows to ground floor, pedimented windows above. Balustraded cornice with urns above, and axial chimney stacks. These ranges have terminal pavillions which balance the return of the main elevation and a low stone flanking wall runs between these two advanced outer bays. Behind these side ranges is a high central block, the court itself, which is lit by a series of round arched windows divided by plain paired pilasters with rams heads. There is an enriched parapet over the cornice on north elevation only.

Listing NGR: SJ3270288938