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ELY MAGISTRATES COURT

ALTERNATIVE NAME:

Ely Shire Hall, Ely Sessions Court

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Ely Magistrates' Court was built in 1821-1822 and was designed by the architect Charles Humfrey. The building is a rare example of an early 19th century purpose built courthouse. The building is also associated with the nearby former gaol house in No.4 Lynn Road. The order to build a new court was given in 1819 as one of many orders given across the country to cope with the increasingly busy judicial system due to an expanding population.

The exterior of the building consists of a rectangular plan with two single storey wings on either side which are in the style of Pavilions. The building is made up of yellow gault brick and features a slate covered roof and is built in the Palladian style. The front of the building features seven bays and a pediment portico on a triglyph frieze supported on four fluted Doric columns.

The interior of the building features a main courtroom, four holding cells and a lobby. One of the original doors of the building is still on display. The main courtroom is located at the centre of the building and consists of two storeys. There is a Magistrates' bench, dock and upper galleries that mostly contain the original fittings and joinery.

As of 2012 it is understood that this building is being considered for disposal.

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Ely Magistrates' Court was built in 1821-1822 in Lynn Road, Cambridgeshire and was designed by the architect Charles Humfrey. The building is a rare example of an early 19th century purpose built courthouse. The building is also associated with the nearby former gaol house in No.4 Lynn Road. The order to build a new court was given in 1819 as one of many orders given across the country to cope with the increasingly busy judicial system due to an expanding population. Land was obtained from Rev. Bringhurst and the Dean and Chapter of Ely and the building cost £6,000 to construct.
The exterior of the building consists of a rectangular plan with two single storey wings on either side which are in the style of Pavilions. The building is made up of yellow gault brick and features a slate covered roof and is built in the Palladian style. The front of the building features seven bays and a pediment portico on a triglyph frieze supported on four fluted Doric columns. The columns feature moulded heads that were repaired in the late 20th century. The tympanum contains the Royal coat of arms. The building features stucco architraves and a stucco band at the level of the window sills. A section connects the main building with one of the pavilion blocks which features brick pilasters that link to stone-balustrade parapets. The railings around part of the building date to the late 20th century. An alteration to the rear of the building in 1843 saw a House of Correction added and the prison chapel in the south wing was converted to a Police Station.
The interior of the building features a main courtroom, four holding cells and a lobby. One of the original doors of the building is still on display. The main courtroom is located at the centre of the building and consists of two storeys. There is a Magistrates' bench, dock and upper galleries that mostly contain the original fittings and joinery. There have been some alterations over time such as the renewal of some of the benches and railings. There is a second courtroom on the south side of the building which features an exposed king-post roof which supports a single tier of chamfered purlins. In 1865-1869 the north wing of the building was used as an armoury and was fully used for this purpose in 1878 when the House of Corrections closed under the Prison Act of 1877. This tenancy in the building was given up in 1908.
The building is a good example of a Palladian style early 19th century courthouse and many of the internal fittings have survived. The building is grade II* listed accordingly. At the time of compiling this record in 2012, access to information on this designation is available via the National Heritage List for England. (1)

Ely Magistrates' Court is a grade II* listed building. For further details on the designation see the statutory data mentioned in source 1. (2)

The second court on the south side of the building is used as a Youth Court. The floor area of the building covers 292sq/ft (89sq/m). (3)

According to English Heritage's Corporate GIS the building lies in a Conservation Area. The National Grid Reference for the building is: TL5393380632 (4)

According to a list supplied to English Heritage's Government Historic Estates Unit, at the time of compiling this record in 2012, it is understood that this building is being considered for disposal. (5)

Information about Ely Magistrates' Court can be found in these publications concerning the future of the UK's Historic Law Courts. (6, 7).

SOURCE TEXT

(1) World Wide Web page

The National Heritage List for England, Ely Magistrates Court, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1296765 [Accessed 06-FEB-2012]

(2) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

East Cambridgeshire, 23-Sep-1950

(3) The Courts Database

Site no. 89.

(4) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

1:1250, 2008

(5) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

(6) Brodie, Allan, Winter, Gary, and Porter, Stephen 2000 The Law Court 1800-2000: Developments in Form and Function

(7) Pollard, Richard 2004 Silence in Court: the future of the UK's historic law courts

Page(s)88

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