Social Services Department Building (Derbyshire County Council)

The Social Services Department building, part of Derbyshire County Council, was constructed in 1895. It is made of red brick with stone dressings, featuring a stone eaves band, cornice, and a string course at the first floor level. The building has a slate roof with stone-coped gable ends and showcases a classical facade with a symmetrical design. It is two storeys high and has five central windows. The outer wings, which are slightly advanced, contain three windows each and are flanked by rusticated stone pilasters. The central windows are round-arched, with the first floor featuring a moulded stone archivolt and a linking impost band. The ground floor has segmental arched windows with gauged brick arches and stone keystones, while the outer wings include round windows in the tympana. The first floors have three windows, with the centre being round-arched and a round window above each side light. The ground floor mirrors the centre section. A massive stone doorcase leads to the round-arched central entrance, adorned with ball finials and a heavy entablature with double consoles. Each jamb features a blind pedimented niche, and steps lead up to the entrance.