Former Probate Court And Attached Area Railings

LICHFIELD

SK1109NW BIRD STREET 1094-1/4/37 (West side) 11/02/93 Former Probate Court and attached area railings

GV II

Former probate court; at one time a museum; now offices. 1856-8. Brick with ashlar dressings; slate roofs with tile crests; brick stacks. Double-depth single-storey range with basement, with cross wing to right. Single storey with basement; symmetrical 2-window range, with 2-storey-with-attic single-window range to right. Top cornices; single-storey range has sill course. Elliptical-headed entrance has moulded arch and hood, recessed 6-panel door; frieze above inscribed: PROBATE COURT. Single-storey range has basement with segmental-headed windows in chamfered openings and ground floor windows of 3 round-headed ovolo-mullioned lights with sashes in architraves; cross wing has canted bay window with 1:3:1 elliptical-headed lights, 1st floor has window of 3 elliptical-headed lights and dripstone, 2nd floor has 2-light hipped half-dormer. Left return has tall lateral stack with flanking round-headed lights; rear range is recessed, with 2 windows of 2 lights. Cross wing has lateral stacks; right return has entrance with chamfered surround, and 2-light 1st floor window and single 2nd floor light above. Rear has lateral stack and flanking hipped dormers. Plain iron area railings; plaque records site of a house where David Garrick spent his early life which was demolished in 1856. Until 1858 wills were generally proved in the diocesan courts; this building is a rare example of a purpose-built probate court. (Iredale D: Discovering Local History: Aylesbury: 1977-: P.48).

Listing NGR: SK1141209644