Description

SO 61 SE LITTLEDEAN -

10/64 Court House
(formerly listed as Gaol)

23.9.55

II*

Former Gaol, now Court House; 1788-'91, altered 1844; by W.
Blackburn, for Sir Onesiphorus Paul. Squared red Forest stone, in
fairly thin courses, ashlar dressings; hipped slate roof, wide
eaves on timber corbels. 'I'-plan with short cross wing in centre:
left half cells, right court room. 2 storey, with third storey to
rear cross wing. Centre wing 3 sash windows each floor: slits on
returns to cover faces of main wings. Wing to left, ground-floor
projects with lead flat, 5-bay semi-circular blind arcade, plain
impost block continuing as sill to semi-circular windows, cast-iron
fanlights with grilles outside. Entrance, set back to right,
flat-headed opening in semi-circular headed recess with grille;
door 6-panel: to left flat-headed planked door beyond projection.
At first floor 6 small, round-headed iron windows: oval sinkings
in centre of sill. Right wing has 7 tall, semi-circular headed
windows at first floor: below ground floor projects over 4 bays
adjoining centre, panelled door at each end with semi-circular
fanlight. Semi-circular windows in centre 2 bays; to right 2 bays
project further, with semi-circular windows in blind arcade. Porch
on right return for public access to Court.
Interior: central hall with panelled doors, some with original
ironmongery. Swing grille to corridor on left; stone paved,
plastered groined vault, blind arches each side, plain impost
blocks. Some cell doors panelled, some cross boarded. Two cells
retain wooden bed base and headrest, dating from 1848, also iron
alarm. 2 stone, dog-leg stairs at end, with grilles: first floor
corridor plastered barrel vault: louvred iron ventilator in end
wall. fling to right gutted to form Petty Session Court 1874;
original docks for accused and backless benches in. public area
survive. Court all at ground floor, slightly raised section for
magistrates. Gaol one of four built in Gloucestershire in late C18
to new plan: best preserved. Ground-floor cells enlarged 1844,
chapel moved to first floor and second floor added to rear for
infirmary. Ceased to be prison and became police station with
cells 1856, Court formed later. (Dr. J. R. S. Whiting, A House of
Correction 1979).

Listing NGR: SO6732513811

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537469

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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