20th century, Magistrates Court, Orsett Road (EHER 40437)

Grays Magistrates' Court was built as a Court and Police station in 1929 on the site of an earlier Police station. The new facility, designed by local architect C. M. Skinner, incorporated two Courts linked to the main range and, to the west, a detached house. Over the years parts of the building have been used as a Registry Office and the police station was relocated in the 1970s. The building is of red brick with stone dressings, the roof coverings have been replaced with concrete roof tiles. A single-storey addition has been constructed against the side elevation of the west Court and an entrance porch has been added to the facade. Internally the main lobby has been remodelled, but with this exception, the plan form is largely intact. The Magistrate's Court was assessed for designation in 2011 but failed to meet the required criteria. As of 2012 it is understood that this building is being considered for disposal.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Situated at northern end of High Street, the magistrates court adopts a classical design and was constructed in 1929 <1> The building was considered for listing but the proposal was rejected in July 2011. The following description is taken from the English Heritage report. <2> History The present Magistrates court was built as a Court and Police station in 1929, on the site of a smaller Police station represented on the historic Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1897, which had been extended to incorporate a Court by 1920. The new facility, designed by a local architect, C.M. Shiner, incorporated two Courts linked to the main range and, to the west, a detached house which may have been accommodation for senior police officers or court officials. Over the years, parts of the building have served as a Registry Office, and the rear wing is now used by the Council’s Youth Offender Service. The Police Station was relocated into new buildings to the rear of the Court in the 1970s. Although historic photographs submitted with the application indicate that the façade of the building is little altered, there have been some modifications to the building. The roof coverings have been replaced with concrete tiles. The windows at the side elevations of the courts have aluminium frames and uPVC windows have been inserted into the rear wing. A single-storey addition has been constructed against the side elevation of the west Court and an entrance porch has been added to the facade. Internally, the main lobby has been remodelled, but with this exception, the plan-form is largely intact. The fixtures and fittings of both courts are entirely late-C20 in date, although there are some original staircases, fireplaces, doors and door furniture remaining throughout the building. MATERIALS Red brick, laid in Flemish bond, with stone dressings, and concrete tiles to the roofs. PLAN Approximately E-shaped, on an east-west alignment. EXTERIOR The three-storey central range of nine bays accommodates the main lobby with offices on the upper floors. It has a hipped roof and truncated stacks. On the façade, the central five bays break forward slightly, emphasised by wide brick quoins, and have a stepped, tall parapet above with stone dressings and coping, the profile of which is matched by the late-C20 projecting porch at the ground floor. There is a moulded stone band between the second and third floors and a plain stone course at eaves height. Centrally, set across the banding at the first and second floors, is a slightly recessed, arched, stone panel with a radiating brick head and a central window. Beneath the window, the Essex Coat of Arms and the date 1929 are carved in stone. Above the window is a carved, foliate motif. The windows at the façade are either the original six-over-six or eight-over-eight vertical sashes with glazing bars. The main doors in the late-C20 porch have a carved stone surround and flat hood over a fanlight with glazing bars. Flanking the central range are two, tall, attached pavilions which house the principal Courts. These, too, have stepped parapets, wide brick quoins and a central stone panel with an arched head in radiating brick. The panel has slight incised line decoration and a semi-circular plaque with foliate carving within the arched head. The side elevations of both pavilions have late-C20 aluminium frame windows. An angular, single-storey addition has been attached to the side elevation of the west Court. To the rear is a small yard enclosed by a brick wall. A three-storey wing projects from the rear of the central range. It has a flat roof and uPVC replacement fenestration and has been extended at the ground floor of the west elevation. Attached to the rear of both of the Court pavilions are single-storey, flat-roofed offices for the Magistrate, with their original exterior panelled doors and fanlights, and brass door furniture, all dating to 1929. INTERIOR The internal arrangement of the main range and its rear wing centres on long axial corridors at each floor. Below the ground level in the main range, the cells are located off the principal corridor which is linked to both Courts by stairs. At the ground floor, the original main entrance to the building is now the interior door from the porch into the remodelled main lobby, from which the Courts are accessed. Few original fixtures and fittings remain in the lobby. The Courts have near full height, giant Ionic order pilasters to the walls and lowered ceilings. All of the furnishings are late-C20. At the rear of the stepped, Magistrate’s dais, a door leads to the Magistrate’s office, cloakroom and W.C. Some original fireplaces and doors remain. The timber stairs to the upper floors where offices are located are simple, with square newel posts and balusters, and a rounded handrail. Many original doors, architraves and joinery survive, but only a few, simply moulded fireplace surrounds remain, the grates having been removed. No. 2 QUARRY HILL (The detached house): Located to the west of the Court, the original purpose of this L-shaped, two-storey building is unclear, but it was used as the Registrar’s Office until recently. The front elevation faces west and has, at its centre, a flat-roofed, wide canted bay with the main entrance at the ground floor. Attached to the north and south are two wings, each with slated, hipped roofs and wide brick quoins. All of the windows are original sashes and casements beneath segmental brick heads at the ground floor. Internally, the plan-form comprising offices on both floors, and original interior fixtures and fittings remain unaltered. The stairs and fireplace surrounds are the same as the in the main building. Enclosing the complex to the front and west are the original, brick piers and boundary walls topped with railings. <2> Grays Magistrates Court and no. 2 Quarry Hill, both built in approximately 1929, are not recommended for designation for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: Although the façade of the Magistrates Court has some merit, the building lacks the dignified simplicity of the design displayed at listed examples of similar date. No. 2 Quarry Hill is a building of standard design lacking the requisite architectural quality to be designated. * Alterations: The overall quality of the Magistrates Court has been diminished by the additions to the front and west and the replacement of the windows and the roof covering. * Interior: The interior remodelling of the Magistrates Court and loss of most original fixtures and fittings has further compromised the interest of the building. <2> 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. <3> The National Grid Reference for this building is: TQ6140478075 <4>