Crown Court, Adjoining Offices And Gate Arch

The Crown Court, along with its adjoining offices and gate arch, was built between 1810 and 1817 by Sir Robert Smirke, with the interior completed in 1822. It occupies the site of the 1542 Citadel, formerly known as “The Citadel.” The building is constructed of red sandstone ashlar, resting on a chamfered plinth with string courses, a machicolated cornice in part, and battlemented parapets. It has hipped lead roofs. A completely 19th-century, rounded tower is situated on the site of the demolished western tower of the original Citadel, retaining the same dimensions. A two-story office block of six bays adjoins the northwest side of the tower. This block, with a mock gate projection on English Street, is in a Gothic style mirroring the Nisi Prius Court range opposite, forming a pair. The tower features tall, two-light windows within rounded, deeply-recessed chamfered arches, over smaller lancets. The office block has double plank doors within a pointed Gothic arch, and a similar off-centre doorway set within a battlemented porch, now fitted with a casement window. The ground floor incorporates stone mullioned windows in double-chamfered surrounds. Larger two-light Gothic windows are located above, each featuring central trefoil heads within pointed arches. The gate projection, formerly a passageway to the court, terminates in two octagonal turrets flanking a central arch under a cross vent. Piers were created in the side walls in 1929 to form pointed arches, previously allowing pavement around the turrets.

The court's interior features its original galleried seating of panelled oak. The offices are internally divided on the ground floor. A late 19th-century Members’ Room incorporates a carved oak fireplace with a monogrammed design, along with a tiled and engraved slate fireback. The upper floor No.2 Courtroom has a plain stone fireplace, pointed archways, dado panelling along one wall, and a rib-panelled plaster ceiling. Revealing of a false ceiling in an outer corridor has exposed earlier painted decoration on the panelled ceiling. A marble statue of Major Aglionby by Musgrave Lewthwaite Watson, dating from 1844, has been moved from the main entrance and boxed in for protection during renovation work. The staircase has a ribbed and traceried wooden ceiling with a flat central skylight. The Grand Jury Room includes dado oak panelling, pointed arches (one forming an alcove), a rib-vaulted plaster ceiling, and some original panelled doors.