Listing Text

TQ 4110 SW & TQ 4110 SE LEWES HIGH STREET
9/243 & 10/243 (north side)

25.2.52 Law Courts, (formerly listed
as County Hall)

GV II*

County Hall, now law courts. 1808-1812 by John Johnson, extended and converted
into courts in later C19. Portland stone with slate roof. Main block framed
by slightly projecting wings with recessed wing to right. 2 storeys with
mezzanine over first floor. Tall plinth to rusticated ground floor. Deep
platband over ground floor. Bracketted cornice to roof with central dormer
masked by frame carrying Royal Arms. 7 windows in 1 - 3 - 1 - 2 rhythm,
the two bays to the right a later C19 extension in similar style but set back
from the main front. Casement windows in outer bays of main block on 2nd floor,
in raised and moulded square surrounds. 3 panels in centre with Coade stone
plaques of Wisdom, Justice and Mercy, designed by Johnson. Tall transom
and mullion wood-framed windows on first floors in raised and moulded surrounds,
those in outer bays with triangular pediments, those in the central 3 bays with
cornice hoods on small brackets over entablatures with rosette decoration.
Blank balustraded panels in platband under first floor windows. Single
glazing bar sashes with rusticated gauged heads in outer bays. 5 bay Doric
columnar screen on ground floor of recess, the-central 3 bays recessed behind,
the outer built forward to screen with rusticated walling and single glazing
bar sashes on each side. 3 arched doorways to rear in centre with doubled
half-glazed doors and large radiating fanlights, separated by attached half-
columns. Iron spearhead gates to the 3 bays of the screen. Steps up to
screen from street and also to the doorways behind. Large square glazed lantern
hanging from central intercolumniation of screen. Interior: Hall; 2 large
Doric columns supporting entablature acting as screen. Staircase behind hall;
single flight stair with cast-iron baluster and wooden rail. Court rooms Nos
1 & 2: basically identical. Mid - late C19 interiors top-lit with coved
ceilings and large rectangular area above, all with Italianate decoration.
Gallery with balustrade on deep volute brackets. French-influenced back to
bench with coved hood to Judge's seat. See R.F. Dell, The Building of the
County Hall, Sussex Archaelogical Collections, c, 1962.

Listing NGR: TQ4150210114