Former County Court

The Former County Court is a two-storey building with attics and a basement, featuring a symmetrical entrance front. It is constructed with red brick facings and terracotta dressings, while the basement is rusticated stone. The steep slate roof includes a painted clock turret, although the cupola has been removed.

The facade has seven bays, with a prominent center and ends that are accentuated by shaped pediments connected by arched balustrades. Pilasters extend through the balustrades, and there are moulded string-courses, architraves, and cartouche panels throughout. The outer ends feature splayed bays with arched heads leading to the attics. The central doorcase is vertically linked to a first-floor Shaw-style window that has a cantilevered balcony, flanked by pedestals on elongated brackets topped with heraldic lions. The ground floor has cross windows and moulded arched openings at the center, with foliage capitals on the angled responds. The main entrance is similarly detailed, featuring dated spandrels and a keyblock, along with double ironwork gates. Curved balustrades lead up to the entrance steps, with pedestals that support ironwork lamp-brackets. The area railings are well-crafted and connect to the outer pedestals, which also have lamp brackets.

The right-hand elevation mirrors this detailing, showcasing a corbelled bay window above an arched doorway and a bowed turret with a pyramidal roof at the front angle. The left-hand elevation faces New Castle Street and steps uphill, maintaining similar detailing and splays forward at the County Court entrance, which is dated 1896. The tall gable-end features a curved angle at the rear on Tramroad Side North.

Inside, the building retains an impressive tiled entrance and staircase halls, adorned with cartouche panels and volute capitals on the piers. The imperial staircase is complemented by ironwork railings that incorporate cartouches, and there are lamp pedestals at the base. The interior also features swagged friezes and arched doorcases leading to corridor openings.