The Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse is a mid-19th century building of 1854, originally built as the Stansted Central Hall to house the Stansted Literary Institute (1849-92). From 1871 to 1892, it also served as the local Post Office. In 1931, it was sold to the Parochial Church Council, and later in 1969, it was re-sold to become The Supreme Ballroom.

The building has a single-storey facade leading to a two-storey block at the rear. The front features a tetrastyle Ionic portico with plain, half-round columns, a frieze, a dentilled cornice, and a pediment. A central double door, consisting of eight panels, is topped by a rectangular fanlight. Above the door is a panel displaying the date 1854. The doorway has a moulded architrave, flanked by large double-hung sash windows with glazing bars, set within moulded architraves and slightly raised aprons. Access is provided by three stone steps. The front cornice extends along the east and west sides as an eaves cornice. The rear block has a variety of sash and casement windows, all with glazing bars.