Tottenham Magistrates Court

Police Court, now Magistrates' Court, opened in 1937. Designed by W.T. Curtis, architect to Middlesex County Council. Built in Neo-Georgian style with brown and blue brick, rubbed red brick, and stone dressings. Hipped tiled roofs. Minor late-20th-century alterations have been made.

The plan comprises a wide and shallow 2-storey-plus-attic front range with single-storey flanking wings; tall single-storey court rooms behind; and a 2-storey-plus-attic wide and shallow rear range. A narrow link connects to a late-20th-century rear addition of no special interest.

The front elevation displays nine window bays with lower two-window-bay flanking wings. Windows are multi-pane casements; those on the ground floor have continuous rubbed brick bands beneath stone plat bands, while those on the first floor sit beneath rubbed red brick flat arches and sides, followed by stone bands and brick bands below stone cornices. Three small hipped dormers punctuate the steeply pitched hipped roof. The stone band extends to the lower flanking wings, where one window on the left was blocked in the late 20th century. A stone advanced entrance portico with segmental hood on columns carries a plaque bearing the Middlesex County Council arms with scales. Stone dressings continue to the central first-floor window with scrolled surround. The side elevations to the central courts range feature taller windows beneath similar arches. The rear range is similarly detailed with windows and arches, and incorporates tall chimney stacks.

The interior contains an entrance vestibule with heavy panelled front doors that open fully into the wall, matched by an inner pair. Paired stairs with metal handrails lead to former witness and waiting rooms at upper levels. A central entrance hall with late-20th-century counters and minimal Art Deco detail to the tops of piers flanks Court 1 and Court 2. These courts retain original English oak fittings with blue leather upholstery, including judges' benches at higher levels, witness boxes, clerk's and solicitor's benches, and public seating to the rear behind fence and gate. A dock on the side wall was fitted with a late-20th-century screen. High-level windows sit above a chevron relief band, and royal arms are displayed. Court 3, smaller but with tall exterior windows, similarly retains original oak fittings and a dock. A commemorative plaque marks the inner hall, where steps descend to cells providing discrete direct access to the courts. A justices' retiring room in the rear range features boxed-in radiators and dado; caretaker's accommodation occupies the space above.

The front boundary is marked by a low brick wall and metal railings.

The building was opened in February 1937 by Lord Chief Justice Hewart as Tottenham Police Court, and was renamed Magistrates' Court after 1949. It was constructed on the site of 'Elmslea', a girls' orphanage supported by the Drapers' Company. The contractor was James Steward & Sons Ltd., and furnishings were provided by Maurice Adams Ltd.