The New Sessions House, Magistrates' Court and Police
Building, 1850 contd.
The side of the building, including the main yard to rear,
was to extend to 120 feet. The dated sketch indicates
provision for three round-headed windows on the first
floor of the long left return wall, whereas the undated
one plans for the fenestration to incorporate four. The
undated sketch seems to have won approval for today four
windows can be seen together with the original public
entrance (still in use) and an entrance for Constables.
A notable feature on this side wall is the cast-iron
standard measure built into it. A weights and measures
office once existed to the north-west of the plot.
Towards the close of the nineteenth century, systematic sanitary reform was widespread. Drainage plans for 1892 show that the side road at the western side of the building was gated at the rear. However, both sets of original designs indicate the siting of gates as an extension to the long left return wall. That the gates were at one time re-sited, remains a possibility but it is interesting to note that two gateposts, similar in design to those featured on the undated plans, are now located at the side road's junction with Derby Street.
What is now a car park for magistrates and officers of the court was once a walled yard of 78 feet 6 inches by 29 feet 6 inches. This space also featured a stable, gig house (for a carriage), men's water closets, urinals and enclosed areas for coals, dung and dust.
The entrance to the rear of the ground floor led the public up a flight of stairs to the single Sessions Room above. The rest of the original ground floor was divided into secure, office and domestic areas. There was one cell for a permanent prisoner and three adjoining cells for remand prisoners. All cells had access to a washing place and a narrow exercise yard. A separate staircase provided prisoners with immediate access to the Sessions Room dock.
