The New Sessions House, Magistrates' Court and Police Building, 1850 contd.
The Constables' entrance led first to a General Office on the front west corner of the building, where those arrested were first processed, then to the Superintendent's Office and two sitting rooms. The Sergeants had a separate sitting room. A water closet, sink and wash house for women were sited at the rear of the ground floor, together with a larder and general cooking room. There was also a separate washing place for single constables and a room for hats and coats. The Superintendent had his own enclosed yard, (part of which is still used today as a secure delivery and collection point for prisoners) water closet, kitchen, scullery, poultry coop and enclosure for dust.
Today's magistrates access the building by the entrance
used for nearly one hundred and fifty years. A staircase
transports them to the first floor. This floor has seen
many changes since 1850. However, it is clear that apart
from a few minor alterations, the present Court Number 1
is the original Sessions Room. At first, county court
hearings and magistrates' courts were held monthly, then
as the number of cases steadily increased, weekly court
sessions were held until eventually they became daily
occurrences. Demographic factors, developments in
transport and increasing legislation were the main
reasons for the Sessions Room's more regular use. In the
second half of the nineteenth century the Ormskirk
Advertiser's most commonly reported cases were of
drunkenness, affray, assaults and theft. The County Court
sittings dealt mainly with the recovery of monies owing.
A magistrates' clerk's room was situated at the top of the public stair well. Much of the rest of the first floor space was used as sleeping quarters. Along the rear wall there were a single men's room and single men's sleeping room. To the front and middle there were two rooms for married Constables and six rooms, including four bedrooms for married Sergeants. The magistrates' retiring room and one of the rooms for married Constables have since become Court Number 2. The second room for married Constables at the front corner of the building is now a retiring room for magistrates.
