SESSIONS HOUSE

List Entry Summary

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Location

SESSIONS HOUSE, LANCASTER ROAD

The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

Legacy System Information

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List entry Description

Summary of Building

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Reasons for Designation

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History

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Details

SD5429SW 941-1/12/176

PRESTON LANCASTER ROAD (West side) Sessions House (Formerly Listed as: LANCASTER ROAD (West side) Crown Court and Sessions House)

27/09/79

GV II* Court house. 1900-3, by Henry Littler. Large rectangular blockon site bounded by Harris Street to the south and Lancaster Road and Birley Street to east and west respectively. Sandstone ashlar (roof concealed). Edwardian Baroque style. Three high storeys over basement, symmetrical on all 3 sides, the principal facade to Harris Street 1:5:1:5:1 windows, the centre and end bays breaking forwards, with a plinth, the ground floor treated as a rustic, coupled giant Ionic columns to the centre and the outer bays, moulded frieze, modillioned cornice, pediments to the outer bays and an open-segmental pediment to the centre, a balustraded parapet as high as the pediments, and a tower over the centre. The centre has a porch with blocked columns, a round-headed concave doorway with convex bacony over; above this a round-headed window with elaborate including figures on the pediment, then an oculus framed by swags; an embellished shield in the pediment; and a tall Baroque tower of 4 diminishing and successively set back stages, the 3 upper stages with free-standing Ionic columns and much enrichment. The rustic ground floor has wide semi-circular headed tripartite sashes, with blocked surrounds and voussoirs; the 1st floor and 2nd floors have 24- and 12-pane sashes respectively, all with moulded architraves and those at 1st floor with cornices; and the outer bays have convex balconies to tall round-headed windows with enriched open pediments, and segmental-headed windows above. Hipped roof with enriched chimney stacks. The east and west facades, 1:3:1 windows, have centres recessed above the rustic, with 4 Ionic semi-columns and windows like those at the front, and outer bays with pedimented architraves to the windows; the east side has 2 round-headed doorways in the rustic, and the west side has a segmental-headed archway to the left. INTERIOR: rich decoration including 2 principal courtrooms with pilastered panelling, panelled library with swags etc., panelled former dining room with fine architraves to doors, and magistrates' cloakroom furnished in Purbeck marble.

Listing NGR: SD5404529476

Selected Sources

National Grid Reference: SD 54045 29476

Map

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