Description

SHEFFIELD

SK3587NE WAINGATE 784-1/20/738 (West side) 28/06/73 Court House

II

Town hall, now High Court and Crown Court. 1808. By Watson of Wakefield. Remodelled and extended mid C19. Mid and late C20 alterations. Ashlar with ashlar dressings. Roof not visible. 4 stone stacks, 3 of them rebuilt without their copings. Classical Revival style. EXTERIOR: plinth, rusticated ground floor and basement, quoins, first floor band, moulded cornice, coped parapet with balustrade panels. 2 storeys plus basement; 5 x 13 windows. Sloping corner site, allowing basement on right return to Waingate. Entrance front, to Castle Street, has a recessed entrance bay to left, with a triple plain sash and below, a segment-arched entrance with multiple keystones and a late C20 canopy. To right, symmetrical block with slightly projecting centre with rusticated quoins and 2 margin light sashes, flanked by single similar sashes. Below, 4 segment-headed margin light sashes, the right one reduced and a drinking fountain c1897 inserted. Right return, to Waingate, has to left a 5 window block with the 3 central projecting bays defined by Ionic pilasters on the first floor. In the centre, 3 margin light sashes, the right one blank. Beyond, to left, a margin light sash and to right, a blank. Above the centre, a square tower, 2 stages, topped with a leaded square dome and finial. Rusticated base with single slit windows. Upper stage with quoins and a round-headed opening on each side, with hoodmould and impost band, multiple keystone and cast-iron grille. Above the modillion cornice, a stage with 4 square corner piers and 4 clock faces. Below, a central flat-headed doorcase with rusticated pilasters and panelled door, flanked by single segment-headed margin light sashes and beyond, similar single sashes. Below the windows, barred basement openings. To right, an addition, 2 storeys plus basement and attics; 3 window range. Central 2 storey round-arched opening with recessed segment-headed margin light sash, flanked by similar single sashes. Above, a blank and 2 margin light sashes. Above again, a blank and 2 small casements. Below, central enriched pedimented doorcase with Ionic columns in antis, with urns on the cornice above it. This was formerly the judges' entrance. On either side, a flat-headed margin light sash, the left one barred. To right, a set back bay with 2 margin light sashes on each floor, those to the first floor segment-headed. To right again, a projecting block, 3 windows, with pediment containing a roundel. 2 storey round-headed central arch with a segment-headed margin light sash, flanked on either side by similar single sashes. Above, 3 tall margin light sashes flanked by Ionic pilasters. Below, a shouldered central entrance with a pair of cast-iron gates, flanked by single windows, the right one covered by a cast-iron grille. To right again, a 3-bay round-headed arcade with wrought-iron grilles and blank fanlights. Above, a panelled parapet, and above it, the main balustrade set back at an angle. Pedimented right return has 3 blank panels framed by Ionic pilasters and below, a brick infill panel with a barred door and 2 windows. INTERIOR has semicircular lobby with Doric columns and entablature, with C20 windows above. 2 wooden dogleg stairs with cast-iron lotus balusters. Court 1, late C19, has dentilled cornice and glazed king post roof with scroll brackets to the soffits. Late C19 fittings include magistrates' bench with traceried front panel and canopy with iron posts and crest. Panelled public gallery with pedimented doorcase and square wooden posts, dock with brass guard rail, and panelled benches. First floor court 2 has panelled walls, cornice and cross beam ceiling with skylight, and similar but plainer fittings. Court 3 is still smaller and plainer. Main first floor rooms have marble and oak fireplaces and pedimented doorcases. Basement, reached by stone winder stair, has judges' entrance hall with cross beam on Ionic marble columns and 5-flight cantilever stone stair with traceried wrought-iron balustrade. At the rear, segmental arched corridor with 14 segmental arched cells.

Listing NGR: SK3570487649

External Links

• Sheffield Old Town Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7492713

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

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  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
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