Description

BLYTH BRIDGE STREET
NZ 3181 NE
(South side)
10/36 Police Station
GV II
Police station, 1896, by John Cresswell, the County Architect. Red brick in
Flemish bond with ashlar dressings and carved red sandstone panels; Lakeland
slate roofs with terracotta ridges and finials, wrought-iron rails and wooden
belfry with leaded fleche. Irregular F-plan with convergent ranges to rear.
Free Gothic style.

Front in 3 sections. Centre 3 storeys, 5 bays, symmetrical. Plinth, moulded
strings, carved panels below windows. 3 steps up to central panelled double
doors with lion bosses, flanked by black marble piers carrying carved lintel
with chained mastiffs and panel inscribed 'POLICE STATION'. Circular carved
panel with date and County Council arms under gable. Bays at each side set
back at 1st floor level and flanked by octagonal turrets with pyramid caps.
Slightly lower end bays have shafted doorways with lintels inscribed MAGISTRATES
(left) and SOLICITORS (right). Steep hipped roof with gabled dormers and central
octagonal belfry with openwork sides and panelled spire.

Right part 3 storeys, 4 bays; right bay set forward with corbelled-out angle
turrets and octagonal pavilion roof with dormers and decorative balcony rails.
Right corner canted back, with oriel; 8-bay right return with 2 similar projecting
bays. Plainer left part 2 storeys, 5 irregular bays; 2nd bay set forward with
corbelled-out angle turrets and pavilion roof. Above and behind, lofty square
ventilation tower had corbelled-out stage with angle turrets and pedimented
gables, below octagonal upper shaft with moulded cap. To left attached moulded
gate piers with gabled caps hold diagonally-boarded double doors.

Paired windows with shouldered, arched and cusped heads; much carved detail.
Openwork and arcaded parapets. Tall stepped-and-corniced stacks.

Interior: Several stairs with wrought-iron balustrades. Courtroom has coved
canopy with pediment over tribunal, and collar-beam roof on chevron-carved
corbels. Magistrates' retiring room (now Courtroom No. 2) has carved mantelpiece
and panelled plaster ceiling. Contemporary stained glass.

Listing NGR: NZ3179981546

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26652581

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)