A Block County Hall And Entrance Forecourt And Pavements

The building is a county hall and entrance forecourt, constructed in the 18th century. It is set within a formal landscape. The main building is of three storeys and an attic, built primarily of English bond buff-coloured and pink brick with Portland stone dressings. The steeply-pitched roof is covered in Cumberland slate with a moulded stone eaves cornice, and features brick axial stacks with stone cornices.

The plan comprises a central section containing the former main entrance, with diagonal wings set at 45 degrees to the central block. A late 20th-century linked addition is located to the rear, and a 1960s extension (B Block) is situated to the south, linked by covered walkways to the ground and first floors; this extension is not of special interest. The forecourt to the north-west has a U-shaped plan.

The north-west front has a symmetrical arrangement of nine bays, with the central bays recessed and flanked by slightly advanced wings. Tall stone aedicules (decorative surrounds to windows with columns and pediments) frame the second-floor windows. The ground storey is of ashlar with three regularly-spaced round arches towards the centre; the central arch contains the entrance and a stone coat of arms in the tympanum. The building has sash windows with glazing bars, recessed attic windows, and a continuous stone cill. The rear (south-west) elevation features a convex curved central section and flanking wings with sash windows and recessed attic windows.

The interior, last inspected in 2011, includes a stone entrance vestibule with a groin-vaulted ceiling and a stone internal porch. Segmental pediments adorn the architraves above the staircases, which have iron balustrades to the landings. A panelled chairman’s office is located on the first floor.

The forecourt pavements are formed with Pennant stone kerbs, channel blocks, and flagstones, backed by Portland stone coping. These frame a carriageway of pebbles interspersed with decorative Pennant stone panels and dividers. The cobbled carriageway runs from The Crescent, past the principal entrance, and onto Park Street, continuing along the street frontages and terminating adjacent to a Portland stone post.