Former Police And Fire Stations At The Guildhall

The former police and fire stations at the Guildhall, now used as offices, were built between 1887 and 1888 by the architectural firm Verity & Lambert of London. Constructed from Darley Dale ashlar with Westmorland slate roofs, the buildings are designed in the Renaissance Revival style. They feature a plinth, cornice, first-floor sill band, eaves cornice, and a blocking course adorned with urns. The gables are coped and topped with three large corniced stacks. The windows are plain sashes with stone mullions.

The two adjoining blocks are each two storeys high plus a basement and have a three-window range. The police station, located on the left, has a projecting centre with a round-arched doorway and a single window above it. On either side, there are tripartite windows on each floor. The fire station, on the right, is distinguished by a domed wooden bell turret and finial. It features a cart entrance with half-glazed doors on the left and two small three-light windows on the right, with three two-light windows above. The right return has a square tower at the rear, which is two storeys tall and has a balustrade. Attached to this return is a wrought-iron overthrow and lamp bracket.