Shoreditch County Court And Attached Railings

The Shoreditch County Court, originally Finsbury Technical College, was built in 1881 and designed by Edward Clifton. It is constructed of white brick laid in a Flemish bond, with stone dressings, and a slate roof. The building is three storeys high with a basement. The facade features a central three-window range, though this is not centrally positioned; the west side has three windows and the east side has six. A prostyle, pedimented Doric portico of Portland stone is located in the middle of the central three-window range, with a tympanum displaying a coat of arms and emblems representing science and technology. This portico leads to a flat-arched entrance with panelled double doors and an overlight. The ground- and first-floor windows are round-arched with keystones and stone springing bands; those flanking the portico are paired with Ionic pilasters, the capitals inscribed with 'DAVY' and 'WATT'. Above the portico is a tripartite window with stone antae and a pedimented entablature. A main entablature sits above the first-floor level. The second-floor windows have segmental arches with gauged brick heads, topped by a cornice and cast-iron cresting over a blocking course. A substantial chimneystack is located between the central three-window bay and the east range, the roof of which is noticeably higher than the rest of the building. There are cast-iron railings to the area. The college, established by the City and Guilds of London Institute for the Advancement of Technical Education, was the first technical college in England.