Oban Sheriff Court, Albany Street

Oban Sheriff Court, built in 1886-1889 by David MacKintosh, is an Italianate-style courthouse situated on a prominent corner location. The main block is a two-storey, five-bay by two-bay rectangular building, with a four-bay annex to the rear (southeast) containing the principal stair and offices. The main facade is constructed of sandstone ashlar, with channelled details at ground level. It features large, round-arched windows at the first floor, each framed by splayed, moulded window surrounds. A dentil cornice runs along the top, above which is a parapet with pyramidal-capped dies. The entrance is through a pair of six-panelled timber doors set within a pilastered doorpiece, embellished with decorative consoles supporting a cornice surmounted by urns and a balustrade.

The annex is predominantly constructed of squared and snecked granite with sandstone dressings, although the south east gable elevation is of rubble construction. A ground floor cill course connects the main block to the annex. The annex features three ground-floor windows and four first-floor windows. Plain cornices mark the eaves, which are topped by a blocking course. A bipartite stair window is centrally located on the east gable elevation, and a small window is set in the gablehead.

The round-arched windows on the front have eight panes of glass in timber sash and case frames. Elsewhere, predominantly four-pane glazing is used in timber sash and case windows. A square, leaded coloured glass window is found in the central stair window on the southeast gable. The front block has a grey-slated, piended roof concealed behind the parapet, while the annex has a grey-slated, pitched roof with skew copes at the gables. Box gutters are located behind the blocking courses, and cast iron downpipes with plain hoppers are present. The annex has stacks at the gable and ridge, topped with square, panelled, and modillioned cans.

The interior, observed in 2014, includes a vestibule screen by James G Falconer, dating from 1911. This screen comprises two timber doors with glazed upper panels and square-leaded lights to the sides and above. The entrance hall features parquet flooring. A wide, stone dog-leg stair has decorative cast iron balusters and a timber handrail. Timber doors to offices are located from the landing, with one timber door having replacement glazing in the upper panel. The courtroom includes a coved ceiling with a decorative cornice. The courtroom has been partially refurbished around 1990, resulting in pine wainscoting and a panelled timber bench decorated with fretwork motifs of anthemion and palmette. Evidence of corner fireplaces, now covered or filled in, is visible in the main offices on both ground and first floors. Original decorative 19th-century gas-lamp fittings and brackets remain throughout the building.