Banbridge Court House, Victoria Street, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3DH

A Victorian Italianate stucco two-storey former courthouse, built c.1870 to designs by Henry Smyth and located to the south side of Victoria Street in Banbridge. Rectangular main block with projecting single-storey wings to east and west each having projecting entrance porch; modern extension to south, in similar style but of no interest. Hipped natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks having moulded caps. Cast-iron downpipes and hoppers; lead-capped corbel courses with bracketed and Lombardic frieze. Walling is painted stucco over a moulded plinth with decorative moulded string course to impost level at each floor and continuous sills; pierced circles to parapet over main block and single-storey wings. Windows are round-headed with geometric glazing bars and pierced window aprons (to main block); 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash with horns to wings, framed by pilasters with carved heads and corbels under sills; all openings with moulded archivolts. The principal elevation faces east and has two blind arcaded openings to first floor centre. Ground floor is abutted by the wing which is wider. Central projecting porch has 1/1 window and four-panelled bolection moulded timber doors to left and right cheeks surmounted by a plain fanlight. Entrance porch is flanked by paired windows to left and right bays. Exposed section to northwest has a small abutment with oculus. The south elevation has three windows to first floor; abutted at ground floor by the modern single-storey extension. The west elevation has two openings to first floor and is abutted at ground floor by the wing which projects to north and south. Central projecting entrance porch has 1/1 window and a steel fire door to left cheek; right cheek has an inverted four bolection moulded timber panelled door with brass door knob. Entrance porch is flanked by paired windows to left and right bays. Exposed section to northeast has a small abutment with oculus. The north elevation is three windows wide to first floor; ground floor has three decorative circular mouldings to centre between moulded string course and continuous sill. Setting Situated to the south side of Victoria Road in Banbridge town centre. Set back from the road and enclosed to north by a tall painted render wall with stone coping topped by security fencing. Bounded to east by a rubble stone wall with square rock-faced stone pier, wall topped by security fencing and large steel entrance gate. Bollards and security gate to east entrance. To south is a modern library and a large modern cinema complex has been constructed to the north side of Victoria Street. Roof: Natural slate Walling: stucco Windows:timber RWG: Cast-iron