Myself and Saigon Ob decided to have a mooch around the former Magistrates Court before the redevelopment begins. Much of the history of the place was covered in the previous report.
In art deco fan communities Derby is often listed alongside London and Liverpool for its art deco and early modernist architecture, which is scattered around the city in the form of shops, housing, factories and cinemas. At the centre of this was Derby's pre WW2 borough architect, Charles Herbert Aslin whose art deco influenced architecture was part of the large scale regeneration of Derby's riverside.
Sadly by 2010 the only examples of this scheme will be Exeter Bridge, the Council House (though is sinking) and the Magistrates which is to be converted to offices. Unfortunately with the Magistrates Court I fear many of its fine details could be lost.
Bit of a challenge finding the way in but once inside no trouble... until we left, though that's not important, though I discourage future explorers from visiting following our experiences. The 1960s block wasn't so easy however personally it offered little merit other then the opportunity to go on the rooftop and to look at the Nuclear warning system.
The fine staircase which greeted the wrong side of the law....
No broken porcelain to report....
The interior is so much nicer than the exterior...
One of the buildings impressive sky lights.
ORDER *bang bang* Saigon Ob in the dock with Judge Thompski... well what else did you expect us to do
Art deco light and ceiling
Now for the cells
And a rooftop shot, the building to the left is the council house, the central feature of the riverside regeneration scheme. If you look inside both the court and the council house share alot in common. The council house was meant to be completed in 1939 (I believe the date stone on the portico entrance reads this) however it wasn't until much later (1950s I think) due to the outbreak of the second world war. Thankfully it remained true to the original designs, despite the differences between pre and post WW2 tastes.
In art deco fan communities Derby is often listed alongside London and Liverpool for its art deco and early modernist architecture, which is scattered around the city in the form of shops, housing, factories and cinemas. At the centre of this was Derby's pre WW2 borough architect, Charles Herbert Aslin whose art deco influenced architecture was part of the large scale regeneration of Derby's riverside.
Sadly by 2010 the only examples of this scheme will be Exeter Bridge, the Council House (though is sinking) and the Magistrates which is to be converted to offices. Unfortunately with the Magistrates Court I fear many of its fine details could be lost.
Bit of a challenge finding the way in but once inside no trouble... until we left, though that's not important, though I discourage future explorers from visiting following our experiences. The 1960s block wasn't so easy however personally it offered little merit other then the opportunity to go on the rooftop and to look at the Nuclear warning system.
The fine staircase which greeted the wrong side of the law....
No broken porcelain to report....
The interior is so much nicer than the exterior...
One of the buildings impressive sky lights.
ORDER *bang bang* Saigon Ob in the dock with Judge Thompski... well what else did you expect us to do
Art deco light and ceiling
Now for the cells
And a rooftop shot, the building to the left is the council house, the central feature of the riverside regeneration scheme. If you look inside both the court and the council house share alot in common. The council house was meant to be completed in 1939 (I believe the date stone on the portico entrance reads this) however it wasn't until much later (1950s I think) due to the outbreak of the second world war. Thankfully it remained true to the original designs, despite the differences between pre and post WW2 tastes.
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