History in Structure

Sessions Court

A Grade II Listed Building in Birkenhead, Wirral

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.393 / 53°23'34"N

Longitude: -3.0134 / 3°0'48"W

OS Eastings: 332702

OS Northings: 388938

OS Grid: SJ327889

Mapcode National: GBR 7YD6.DF

Mapcode Global: WH876.PZ78

Plus Code: 9C5R9XVP+5J

Entry Name: Sessions Court

Listing Date: 28 March 1974

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1201601

English Heritage Legacy ID: 389151

Also known as: Wirral Magistrates' Court

ID on this website: 101201601

Location: Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, CH41

County: Wirral

Electoral Ward/Division: Birkenhead and Tranmere

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: Birkenhead

Traditional County: Cheshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Merseyside

Church of England Parish: Birkenhead Christ the King

Church of England Diocese: Chester

Tagged with: Building

Description


BIRKENHEAD

SJ3288NE CHESTER STREET 789-1/14/45 (North West side) 28/03/74 Sessions Court

GV II

Sessions Court. Dated 1885-1887. By T.D.Barry and Son. Ashlar-faced, roof not seen. Enriched classical style, with entrance elevation to Chester Street comprising high basement, and principal storey of 3 bays with advanced outer bays and continuous colonnade. Central bay has entrance in rusticated basement, paired doors with low relief panels dated 1887 in architrave with foliate swags and rosettes and caryatids, flanked by 2 windows each side. Corinthian order to paired pilasters and columns of principal storey with heavy modillion cornice and alternating panels and balustrading to parapet over. Paired Corinthian shafts carrying segmental pediment over mullioned and transomed window in advanced outer bays, with low relief figures over. Tripartite window behind the collonade over, and 3 oculi above. 2 lantern towers each side of central bay with cast-iron screens to segmental arches and pedimented cap are linked by high parapet with free-standing sculpted figures. Return elevations have 3 square-headed windows to ground floor, ornate pedimented heads to tripartite windows of first floor. Lower rear ranges to Mortimer and Brandon Streets of 7 recessed bays with central door in concave moulded architrave, 2-pane sash windows to ground floor, pedimented windows above. Balustraded cornice with urns above, and axial chimney stacks. These ranges have terminal pavillions which balance the return of the main elevation and a low stone flanking wall runs between these two advanced outer bays. Behind these side ranges is a high central block, the court itself, which is lit by a series of round arched windows divided by plain paired pilasters with rams heads. There is an enriched parapet over the cornice on north elevation only.

Listing NGR: SJ3270288938

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.