Guildhall, Police Station and Central Fire Station, Nottingham
Former Magistrates’ court, police station and fire station, all in one grand 1880s building with a stunning entrance hall and Art Deco features
Visited October 2018 Burton Street, Nottingham, UK Disused
Nottingham Guildhall is a former Magistrates’ court on Burton Street in Nottingham. Built in the French Renaissance Revival style between 1887-1888 to replace the previous Nottingham Guild Hall, it was designed by architects Thomas Verity and George Henry Hunt. The building as erected contained the Police (magistrates’) Court, the Central Police Station and the new Fire Station.
In 1996, all magistrates were moved to the new Nottingham Magistrates’ Court building. Between 1996 and 2010 the Guildhall was occupied by Nottingham City Council. In 2010 the Council left for new, modern offices at Loxley House, close to Nottingham rail station. Since this date the building has remained Council owned but is relatively unused.
Exterior of the Guildhall, Nottingham
The Guildhall
Nottingham Guildhall – The grand entrance hallNottingham Guildhall – View down the entrance hallNottingham Guildhall – The grand entrance hallNottingham Guildhall – List of lord mayorsNottingham Guildhall – Queen Victoria plaqueNottingham Guildhall – One of the two matching staircasesNottingham Guildhall – King George V plaqueNottingham Guildhall – Belgian Refugee’s plaque
Court Rooms
The two courtrooms situated side-by-side were a mirror image of each other, and had not been used since 1996. A suspended ceiling had been added and later removed, but the framework remains.
Courtroom 1
Nottingham Guildhall – Courtroom No. 1 from the backNottingham Guildhall – Angle view of courtroom No. 1Nottingham Guildhall – Courtroom No. 1 from the frontNottingham Guildhall – Wording detail on reporters benchNottingham Guildhall – Wording detail on jurors bench
Courtroom 2
Court 2 was pretty much the same as Court 1, just mirrored with the public viewing galleries (the balcony) of each court back-to-back
Nottingham Guildhall – Courtroom No. 2 from the backNottingham Guildhall – Angle view of courtroom No. 2Nottingham Guildhall – Side view of court 2 and the view gallery
Cells
The old cells were directly below the court rooms, and feature some nice decay, original brickwork and generally look like the kind of place you don’t want to be locked up in.
Nottingham Guildhall – Bench and urinal in communal cellNottingham Guildhall – Bars in cell corridorNottingham Guildhall – View into one of the cellsNottingham Guildhall – Cell block corridorNottingham Guildhall – More of the cell block
Other areas of the Guildhall
Nottingham Guildhall – Top of the staircaseNottingham Guildhall – Entrance to the public viewing galleries on the first floorNottingham Guildhall – Corridor in the office sectionNottingham Guildhall – I suspect this room with an ornate ceiling had been double the height, and had an additional floor added at some point in the pastNottingham Guildhall – Nice windows in a side areaNottingham Guildhall – Floating walkway interconnecting the police station and courtrooms of the Guildhall
Police and Fire Station
Exterior of the police station (left-central) and fire station (right)Courtyard between the Guildhall, police station and fire station
Fire Station
Fire Station – Inside the main entranceFire Station – Some Art Deco features remainedFire Station – Art Deco staircaseFire Station – Pool table in the recreation roomFire Station – Steps to weird bar areaFire Station – Rear of the fire stationFire Station – Doors to the fire station’s garage
Police Station
Police Station – ReceptionPolice Station – Art Deco staircase matching that of the fire stationPolice Station – Entrance to the Command SuitePolice Station – Command Suite corridorPolice Station – Corridor in the police stationPolice Station – Another staircase, this one leading to the cells below…Police Station – Staircase to the cellsPolice Station – One of the police station cells
I am preparing one music video for musician from nottingham and now I am looking for great places for it. And I think I found it.. Where did you find permission to step in? Thanks and by do way, I went thru all your pictures, Are amazing!!
Hi Behind Closed Doors Good photos, Building now sadly being targeted by vandals , fires have also been set within, did you by chance take photos of all the internal court rooms ? and inparticular Court number 12 ?
Burton Street, Nottingham, UK Disused 
Amazing…. Great find. Will try and check it out myself if it’s easy enough…
Do, it’s well worth a look
Behind Closed Doors I’m too old for climbing if that’s what’s involved lol
I am preparing one music video for musician from nottingham and now I am looking for great places for it. And I think I found it.. Where did you find permission to step in? Thanks and by do way, I went thru all your pictures, Are amazing!!
All the photos on this website were taken without gaining permission, we just sneak in (without breaking in!) and have a look around
Great place and great pictures
Thank you
brilliant
Absolutely brilliant, moved us to tears. Ideal museum and art gallery, instead of the “Castle”.
Moved me to tears too I had my second job at the Magistrate’s Courts l
Hi Behind Closed Doors
Good photos, Building now sadly being targeted by vandals , fires have also been set within, did you by chance take photos of all the internal court rooms ? and inparticular Court number 12 ?