Heritage Open Days
Our own contribution, in opening the listed and threatened Lytham Magistrates Court, was again a great success. 366 people visited over the two days. They were brought in by national publicity, the local press and notices put up around Lytham (by Bill Thompson). Our thanks go to all those who helped on the rota of stewards. They enabled this important building to be open. We also thank the magistrates and former magistrates who came along to help interpret the court. Visitors could see the central 'dock' from where prisoners were 'sent down' to the cells below. In the former magistrates retiring room there were exhibitions about the court, which dates back to 1904, and about the Civic Society. The cells can be seen, and the two way mirror from where all sorts of doubtful deals were spotted. We were visited
by numerous people who had known the court when it was operational.
The Gazette photographer was interested in taking shots of the graffiti
left by former journalists and etched for ever into the press bench.
There were no parents this year who tried to lock their children
in the cells, a welcome change! We did note some deterioration in
the building, however, and a lot of rubbish collecting on the stained
glass roof lights. Next year's dates for Heritage Open Days are already confirmed as 10-13th September 2004. Information about the Lytham Police Station & Magistrates Court (taken from the forthcoming Civic Society book on listed buildings)
At first, it
was thought that the old police premises in Bannister Street could
be extended and modernised, but the authorities concluded that these
should be demolished and replaced with an imposing new structure.
They appointed Manchester architect Henry Littler, who also designed
the old St Annes College and parts of Rossall School, and awarded
the contract to Henry Mogridge of Lytham. Building began in late
1900, and, apart from the brickwork and slating, the work was sub-contracted
to local craftsmen. The total cost was over £7,000. The opening
ceremony took place in August 1902, and the first chairman of the
bench was Thomas Fair, the Clifton Estate agent.
Number One Courtroom
has some of the finest court fixtures in Lancashire, including the
magistrates' bench with retiring room, and a central prisoner's
dock with stairs leading down to the cells below. The gas-light
fittings survive and have been converted to electricity. The Court
has a beautifully plastered Gothic ceiling with two large leaded-light
windows with a central red rose of Lancaster. The window in the
north wall bears the Lancashire coat of arms. The public entrance
is in North Clifton Street. Sadly, the Court was closed at the end
of 1998 but has since been opened to the public annually by the
Civic Society for European Heritage weekends. There are fears
that the site may be re-developed. The Civic Society has suggested
that the court could be isolated from the rest of the building,
as it has a separate entrance, and be preserved. It has been used
for teaching schoolchildren about the system of justice during the
last year and could become a valuable asset. |
