Shire Hall (including Queen's Chambers)

Shire Hall (including Queen's Chambers)

An eclectic Dutch Baroque building comprising the Shire Hall itself and the adjoining Queen's Chambers, both Grade II listed structures.

The Shire Hall is a substantial building of three storeys plus basement and attic, extending across nine bays. It is constructed of squared and coursed limestone grey rubble with extensive Grinshill ashlar detailing. The roof is finished with artificial slates, and features unusual pylonic ashlar ridge chimneys. Alternate bays project slightly forward, creating a varied roofline. The entrance is located in the fourth bay from the right, within a shaped gable containing an inscribed roundel dated 'Monmouthshire County Council 1889', set within a carved surround. The flanking projecting bays have pedimental gables with side scrolls. The extreme left bay carries a similar gable dated 1913, and both of these feature thermal attic windows.

The second floor has three-light mullion and transom windows with small-paned glazing. Windows in the projecting bays have triple keystones. The first floor carries taller windows of similar design, with those in the advanced bays having segmental pediments broken by triple keystones. Pediments and recessed bays are linked by a stringcourse. The ground floor features wide three-light windows with round-arched heads, styled as elongated thermal windows and containing similar small-paned glazing. The main entrance is set beneath an open segmental pediment with a moulded surround, supported on paired blocked columns with pseudo-Ionic capitals. Panelled doors with small-paned overlights provide access.

Queen's Chambers is a lower structure with a facade of three very narrow bays and three storeys plus attic. A large dormer window features a segmental pediment with a prominent keystone and side scrolls, with a thermal window within. First and second floor windows are narrow with small panes. Those in the wider centre bay are grouped in triplets, with the first floor triplet having a pediment and keystone. Flanking windows are also pedimented, as are the narrow lights flanking the central entrance. The entrance itself has an open pediment bracketed over a round-arched door, with panelled doors and small-paned overlights.

A small railed forecourt fronts Queen's Chambers and extends in front of the left three bays of the Shire Hall. This features square panelled ashlar piers. The railings and gates date to the 20th century and were made to match the originals, which were used for the war effort.

Large rear wings extend from both buildings. A square block of yellow brick has two-storey bay windows facing east and west, with dormers above. To the right stands another yellow brick wing with an octagonal courtroom attached to the west. This courtroom is constructed of sandstone with brick detailing, featuring large square upper windows with small-pane glazing and a pyramidal roof topped with an octagonal lantern. Further west is another wing of similar construction containing a staircase, lit by a tall round-arched window facing east, with a slightly staggered lower block attached.

The interior of the Shire Hall contains a fine well staircase with stone treads and a scroll-pattern wrought iron balustrade. Square veined marble newels support the rail. The staircase is set behind a four-bay screen of coloured marble Ionic columns. The first floor balustrade features a larger, freely scrolled pattern. The staircase is top-lit by a rectangular lantern, and the surrounding spaces feature a plaster cornice with dentils. The ground floor boasts a mosaic floor with a marginal key fret pattern, with additional mosaic floors throughout the ground floor corridors. Oak panelled doors provide access to various spaces. A second well staircase at the west end of the Shire Hall rises three storeys and is lit by a large round-arched window, with a simple wrought iron balustrade.

The octagonal courtroom to the rear rises through two storeys and has a flat plaster ceiling with radiating timber ribs set on a deep boarded cove. A public gallery at first floor level has a panelled front. The fittings have been removed from the courtroom.

Queen's Chambers contains a large well staircase with stone treads and decorative wrought iron balustrading similar to the main staircase, with painted square newels.

The range of buildings to the east, fronting Pentonville (former police station and magistrate's court), is not included in the listing.