Magistrate's Court

Cadw's description

History

Dated 1864. Built as the Police Station and lock-up to supersede that in Penygreen Road. High Victorian Gothic - influence of Prichard and Seddon;

Exterior

2-storey with irregular plan. Red brick with blue/black brick banding and dressings; stone plinth. Some slate hanging and the roof has banded fishscale tiling and red brick chimney stack. The main front is 2-window with casement glazing. Tall gable to left with implied truss to the apex; paired lancets below under a relieving arch of banded brick with similar impost band and freestone imposts and cills. The ground floor window is 3-light with cambered head and banded voussoirs. Right hand ground floor window was formerly similar - now a modern insertion. Attached single storey range to right with similar detail and inset red 'VR' letterbox. Boarded door opens onto passage into rear yard which has modern alterations. The left hand side facing down New Street is mostly slate hung to the 1st floor; a 2-storey bay projects with half hipped gable and finial and stilted window heads. Ornate main door is on the right hand side of this in the angle - tall and chamfered opening with polygonal imposts etc. Freestone tympanum with coat of arms inscribed "Llanidloes Lock-up Erected AD 1864"; boarded door with ironwork.

Taller range behind containing Court room; 2 conical ventilators to roof. Outside stairs added in later brickwork. The rear gable end has 2 sash windows.

Interior

The interior of the Court room has trusses with intersecting principals and iron tie bars.

Reason for designation

Group value.