The Bridewell

The Bridewell is a prison and magistrates' court, built in 1787 with additions from the early 19th century. Constructed of red brick, it features Cumberland slate and pantile roofs. The building comprises three ranges arranged around a courtyard, with the west range being the main block. This range is two storeys high and has five bays, with the central three bays projecting forward under a pediment. The main entrance features a double-leaf panelled door set within a timber surround. Windows are predominantly 2-light cross casements set within gauged skewback arches. A timber eaves cornice sits below a hipped roof, and two symmetrical stacks rise from the rear roof slope. The roof is covered in Cumberland slate. The south range, also two storeys high, has two tall round-headed windows that mark the extent of the magistrates' court. It is topped with a hipped roof and three eccentrically placed stacks. The inner facade facing the courtyard incorporates five round-headed sash windows and two blind bays. The north block is also two storeys high with a hipped roof. A large, late 20th-century garage extension provides space for ambulances within the courtyard. The fenestration across the building is varied. The interior includes brick barrel-vaulted cellars, and one holding cell retains a heavy timber door without a lock, complete with its original crash bar and plate on the exterior.