Law Courts
Law Courts, High Street
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1043780
- Date first listed:
- 25-Feb-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Law Courts
- Statutory Address:
- Law Courts, High Street
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-08-30
- Reference:
- IOE01/14648/04
- Rights:
- © Mr Michael Parry. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1043780
- Date first listed:
- 25-Feb-1952
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 29-Oct-1985
- List Entry Name:
- Law Courts
- Statutory Address 1:
- Law Courts, High Street
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Law Courts, High Street
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- East Sussex
- District:
- Lewes (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Lewes
- National Park:
- South Downs
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 41502 10114
Details
TQ 4110 SW and TQ 4110 SE
9/243 and 10/243
LEWES
HIGH STREET(north side)
Law Courts
(formerly listed as County Hall)
25.2.52
GV
II*
County Hall, now law courts. 1808-1812 by John Johnson, extended and converted into courts in later C19. Portland stone with slate roof. Main block framed by slightly projecting wings with recessed wing to right.
Two storeys with mezzanine over first floor. Tall plinth to rusticated ground floor. Deep platband over ground floor. Bracketted cornice to roof with central dormer masked by frame carrying Royal Arms. Seven windows in one-three-one-two rhythm, the two bays to the right a later C19 extension in similar style but set back from the main front. Casement windows in outer bays of main block on second floor, in raised and moulded square surrounds. Three panels in centre with Coade stone plaques of Wisdom, Justice and Mercy, designed by Johnson.
Tall transom and mullion wood-framed windows on first floors in raised and moulded surrounds, those in outer bays with triangular pediments, those in the central three bays with cornice hoods on small brackets over entablatures with rosette decoration. Blank balustraded panels in platband under first floor windows. Single glazing bar sashes with rusticated gauged heads in outer bays. Five bay Doric columnar screen on ground floor of recess, the-central three bays recessed behind, the outer built forward to screen with rusticated walling and single glazing bar sashes on each side.
Three arched doorways to rear in centre with doubled half-glazed doors and large radiating fanlights, separated by attached half-columns. Iron spearhead gates to the three bays of the screen. Steps up to screen from street and also to the doorways behind. Large square glazed lantern hanging from central intercolumniation of screen.
Interior: hall; two large Doric columns supporting entablature acting as screen. Staircase behind hall; single flight stair with cast-iron baluster and wooden rail. Court rooms Nos 1 and 2: basically identical. Mid-late C19 interiors top-lit with coved ceilings and large rectangular area above, all with Italianate decoration. Gallery with balustrade on deep volute brackets. French-influenced back to bench with coved hood to Judge's seat.
See R.F. Dell, The Building of the County Hall, Sussex Archaeological Collections, c, 1962.
Listing NGR: TQ4150210114
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 293225
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 14:22:39.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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