Former Lambeth Magistrates' Court

The following building shall be added:

RENFREW ROAD TQ 3198 (east side) 963-/5/10018 Former Lambeth Magistrates' Court

II

Former Criminal Magistrates court. Built in 1869 by Thomas Charles Sorby, 1836-1924, in Gothic style. Some heightening to north front in 1930s. Built of red brick in Flemish bond with stone dressings and slate roof. Asymmetrical building, varying between 1 and 3 storeys with irregular fenestration of mainly mullioned and transomed casements. Comprises Magistrates Court and Offices to north and Cell Block to south. Entrance front to west is mainly of one storey with brick parapet containing three bands of arched fretted balustrading. To north is one bay of two storeys. Ground floor has three mullioned and transomed casements with arched heads. Northernmost window is linked by tiled panel and hood moulding with boss to first floor window with mullioned and transomed window of two lights. Dogtooth cornice above and gable with stone kneelers. Centre of ground floor projects with "18 AD 69" above central window and Royal Coat of Arms in gabled surround above. On each side of the central window are an arched doorcase with two arched fanlights. Plank doors with elaborate hinges. to the extreme north is an arched doorcase with fretted balustrading above. North front has a second floor mainly heightened in the 1930s. 4;7;5 mullioned windows, some with Caernarvon arches. One storey vestibule of one bay to the north east. East front has three double cinquefoil-headed lights to Court. To the south is a two storey cell block with four small mullioned windows. Interior has Entrance Hall with chamfered oak beams to roof and well staircase and original panelled doors. Court has hipped boarded roof and retains all the original fittings including wooden canopy, dock and panelled benches. Subsidiary staircase with turned balusters to rear. Half-tiled corridors. Some C19 fireplaces. Unaltered cells, some with Victorian sanitary fittings. This is the earliest surviving example of a Criminal Magistrates Court in the Metropolitan area. (Pevsner Ed BOE London South P369.)

Listing NGR: TQ3163078681