Court House

SO 61 SE LITTLEDEAN -

10/64 Court House (formerly listed as Gaol)

23.9.55

II*

Former Gaol, now Court House; 1788-'91, altered 1844; by W. Blackburn, for Sir Onesiphorus Paul. Squared red Forest stone, in fairly thin courses, ashlar dressings; hipped slate roof, wide eaves on timber corbels. 'I'-plan with short cross wing in centre: left half cells, right court room. 2 storey, with third storey to rear cross wing. Centre wing 3 sash windows each floor: slits on returns to cover faces of main wings. Wing to left, ground-floor projects with lead flat, 5-bay semi-circular blind arcade, plain impost block continuing as sill to semi-circular windows, cast-iron fanlights with grilles outside. Entrance, set back to right, flat-headed opening in semi-circular headed recess with grille; door 6-panel: to left flat-headed planked door beyond projection. At first floor 6 small, round-headed iron windows: oval sinkings in centre of sill. Right wing has 7 tall, semi-circular headed windows at first floor: below ground floor projects over 4 bays adjoining centre, panelled door at each end with semi-circular fanlight. Semi-circular windows in centre 2 bays; to right 2 bays project further, with semi-circular windows in blind arcade. Porch on right return for public access to Court. Interior: central hall with panelled doors, some with original ironmongery. Swing grille to corridor on left; stone paved, plastered groined vault, blind arches each side, plain impost blocks. Some cell doors panelled, some cross boarded. Two cells retain wooden bed base and headrest, dating from 1848, also iron alarm. 2 stone, dog-leg stairs at end, with grilles: first floor corridor plastered barrel vault: louvred iron ventilator in end wall. fling to right gutted to form Petty Session Court 1874; original docks for accused and backless benches in. public area survive. Court all at ground floor, slightly raised section for magistrates. Gaol one of four built in Gloucestershire in late C18 to new plan: best preserved. Ground-floor cells enlarged 1844, chapel moved to first floor and second floor added to rear for infirmary. Ceased to be prison and became police station with cells 1856, Court formed later. (Dr. J. R. S. Whiting, A House of Correction 1979).

Listing NGR: SO6732513811