Greenwich Magistrates’ Court, London

Greenwich Magistrates Court

A courthouse in London that opened in 1909 with many original features still remaining

Visited May 2017  UK Blackheath Road, Greenwich, London, UK Closed, abandoned

Designed by Architect to the Metropolitan Police, John Dixon Butler FRIBA, the Greenwich Magistrates’ Court opened in 1909 with an integral police station. The Symmetrical frontage is faced in Portland Stone in a free Classical style and features a central semi-circular tablet with Royal Coat of Arms, carved in stone by Lawrence Turner.

Greenwich Magistrates Court - The magistrates court in Greenwich
Greenwich Magistrates Court – The magistrates court in Greenwich

Inside, the entranceway leads to the former police station foyer which has a mosaic tiled floor with MP monogram (for Metropolitan Police) laid by Messrs Diespeker.  The foyer leads onto Court 1, the main courtroom which is toplit with a decorative plaster frieze around the light well and a monogram of Edward VII in plaster above the bench. The Courtroom has mostly original fittings and the bench is in a curved recess, up three steps.

The court has its own custody suite. The suite consists of nine prison cells with associated facilities for booking in prisoners etc.

Greenwich Magistrates Court - Semi-circular tablet with Royal Coat of Arms
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Semi-circular tablet with Royal Coat of Arms

There are two additional courtrooms, the third being added around 1960. We didn’t get the chance to photograph courts 2 and 3 due to our visit being cut short when the security staff arrived to start their shift.

The court closed in 2016 when a government programme identified a number of courts that were used for around only a third of their hearing time. The hearings and workload of Greenwich Magistrates’ Court were moved to the nearby Bromley County Court.

Greenwich Magistrates Court - Overview of Courtroom 1
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Overview of Courtroom 1
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Courtroom 1 was the main court
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Courtroom 1 was the main court
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Lightwell over the main courtroom
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Lightwell over the main courtroom
 
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Courtroom 1
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Courtroom 1
Greenwich Magistrates Court - The magistrates seats
Greenwich Magistrates Court – The magistrates seats
Greenwich Magistrates Court - The bench and magistrates seats
Greenwich Magistrates Court – The bench and magistrates seats
Greenwich Magistrates Court - View from behind the bench
Greenwich Magistrates Court – View from behind the bench
Greenwich Magistrates Court - View towards the back of the courtroom
Greenwich Magistrates Court – View towards the back of the courtroom
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Monogram of Edward VII in plaster
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Monogram of Edward VII in plaster

Greenwich Magistrates Court - Foyer with MP (Metropolitan Police) monogram mosaic [photo by The_Raw]
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Foyer with MP (Metropolitan Police) monogram mosaic [photo by The_Raw]
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Foyer lit by circular lightwell [photo by The_Raw]
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Foyer lit by circular lightwell [photo by The_Raw]

Plan of Court 1 [photo by The_Raw]
Plan of Court 1 [photo by The_Raw]
 

Post Court Crime Office [photo by The_Raw]
Post Court Crime Office [photo by The_Raw]

Greenwich Magistrates Court - Judges Resting Chamber [photo by The_Raw]
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Judges Resting Chamber [photo by The_Raw]

Greenwich Magistrates Court - Court Keepers room
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Court Keepers room
 
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Staff area
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Staff area
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Entrance to the cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Entrance to the cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Custody information board
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Custody information board
Greenwich Magistrates Court - A few of the 9 cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court – A few of the 9 cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Cell doors
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Cell doors
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Looking into one of the cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Looking into one of the cells
Greenwich Magistrates Court - Not the most comfortable accommodation
Greenwich Magistrates Court – Not the most comfortable accommodation
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

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