Old West Riding Court House and Police House

Old West Riding Court House, St Mary's Place, Barnsley

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Stone buildings

Age

Purpose built in 1879 as a Court House by the West Riding County Council. There is a stone carved plaque commemorating "WYR 1897" at first floor level on the St Marys Gate elevation. Adjoining it are the police house, charge room and cells.

Rarity

Nothing else is known in the Barnsley area in this particular imposing architectural design. It was saved from demolition when it became BMBC's computer centre around the time of local government reorganisation in 1974. The external elevations have not been altered since it was constructed. It is interesting that, whilst the former Borough of Barnsley had its own police force, the courts were under the jurisdiction of the former West Riding County Council. It is presumed the architects were employed by WRCC. The style of the police house is rare in the town centre and adds significantly to the variety of buildings.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

This is an imposing bastion of authority built in a quasi-teutonic style from local pennine stone with a blue slate roof. There are two storeys on St Marys Gate with five arched windows to the ground floor and a series of elongated perpendicular windows at first floor level which emphasise the strong perpendicularity of the building. A tower dominates the northern corner of the building to St Marys Gate which, from the louvres, suggests it is a bell tower. The tower has an unusual conical slate spire. The southern elevation has a fortress appearance with three storeys. In the rear yard at ground floor level there are 10 cast iron columns supporting the wall of the first floor on cast beams. It could be that the column and beams were a later addition to enable the extension of the first floor. The police house is of a more domestic style, looking like a pennine manor house constructed in local stone and with a blue slate roof. It is understood to have been the superintendent's house with a charge room alongside and cells in the buildings to the rear which frame one side of the rear courtyard. The building was used as offices for many years but externally has not been altered.

Group Value

The court house and police house with cells create a courtyard and although the two buildings are different architecturally they create a group by function, materials used and, in all likelihood, by age.

Historic Interest

The buildings tell us about the history of policing, law enforcement and local goverment structures since 1879.

Archaeological Interest

The inside of the court house will no doubt hold information and insights into the organisation of judicial establishments and processes in the past. The holding cells and the courthouse were linked by a tunnel. It is not known what remains of the court room within the courthouse.

Landmark Status

The courthouse building is highly visible and dominates the corner of Westgate and St Marys Gate and in the past would have been significantly identified as standing for justice and law enforcement. The police house adds to the landmark impact of the group as a whole.

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14 Jun 2023