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Police & Crown
Court - Minshull Street
Thomas Worthington entered the competition for the construction of the Town Hall but lost out to Alfred Waterhouse. He did, however, design the Albert Memorial that stands outside in Albert Square and he designed Nicholls Hospital in Ardwick which became the Ellen Wilkinson School. He also won the competion to design this building, originally known as The City Police and Sessions Courts, on Minshull Street.
In winning the competition Worthington
beat Waterhouse, Salomons, Clegg & Knowles and other
major practices in Manchester. The building was
constructed between 1867 and 1873.  This red brick
building is thought to have been inspired by
Worthington's travels in Italy and based on sketches
he made during his journey. It has a clock and bell
tower that is similar to the one on the former Ellen
Wilkinson School and a minaret-like chimney.
 It had 4 courtrooms located in the centre of the complex for security purposes and to reduce noise from the streets. Below is a view of the inside of the courthouse. The image is shown here with the permission of the Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archive. (You can see more historic images on their Flickr Photostream).    Between 1993 and
1996 James Stevenson built an extension on the
Aytown Street side. At the same time the courtyard
was glazed over and 4 new court rooms were added
on the ground floor, as well as 2 new courtrooms
in the extension.
  The magistrates
entrance was on the Minshull Street side opposite
Richmond Street. Arranged at eye level around the
magistrates entrance Worthington placed sculptures
of fierce beasts by Earp amnd Hobbs.
   ****************************** To see an in-depth history
of the development of a professional police
force and its police stations in Manchester,
click on the button below.
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