County Court Buildings

The building is a former county court, dating from circa 1875, and altered in the mid-20th century. It was designed by J.G. Sorby. The construction incorporates ashlar and brick, with ashlar dressings, and a slate mansard roof, executed in an Italianate style.

The building features a vermiculated plinth, channelled rustication, a first floor cornice and impost band, a modillion main cornice and balustrade. It is two storeys plus attics and a basement, with eleven bays by five windows. The windows are primarily wooden framed casements and French windows. The main front, facing Bank Place, has nine recessed windows with cornices and balustrades, separated by Ionic pilasters and featuring lunettes above. Flanking these are two similar windows with voussoirs. A tall attic storey sits above, supported by volutes, with a dentillated cornice and four windows set under pediments, with blank lunettes above. The ground floor has ten windows with voussoirs, and a door within a similar opening to the left. There are six basement openings.

The right return, facing St Peter’s Gate, has similar fenestration. Three French windows are set under lunettes, flanked by single windows with voussoirs. Above this, a pedimented dormer contains a round-arched opening, flanked to the left by a mansard roof with two windows. Below, a central panelled double door displays the Royal arms in a panel above it, flanked by single windows. To the left is a blank section, and to the right a double door with an overlight. All of these openings have voussoirs.