This court building was constructed circa 1860 and is attributed to the architect Charles Reeves and his pupil, Thomas Charles Sorby.  It is described as being of "Italianate style as many courts of the period, although this court may be more lavish in accommodation in that it provided separate rooms for judge, counsel, and jury." The building was altered in 1928 and again in 1985 but closed 1991-2.

The scene above was made famous by the artist L S Lowry in his drawing entitled "By the County Court".  Although the image above was taken in March of 2013 the scene is little changed from the day that Lowry drew it almost 90 years ago and one suspects many years before that.  The County Court and the old Magistrates building are now residential properties.

Today the Court House, the Magistrates house, the gateway and the wrought iron railings are listed structures.