British Listed Buildings

Listing Text

James Matthews, Aberdeen, 1870-71. Renaissance, palazzo type courthouse. 7-bay frontage to Low Street with 5-bay S return gable and 3 wide bays to Back Path (N). Tooled ashlar Low Street frontage and S return elevation, polished ashlar margins and dressings, harled to Back Path and rear. U-plan with void of U infilled with tall single storey courthouse, lit by long rear windows.
LOW STREET FRONTAGE: balustraded portico supported by paired Corinthian columns fronts entrance in slightly advanced centre 3 bays. Segmental-headed keystoned ground floor aproned windows with moulded jambs; keystoned round-headed lst floor fenestration, windows linked at impost level by decorative bandcourse. Deep moulded and modillioned cornice below wallhead balustrade, raised, panelled and blocked in
centre.
S RETURN ELEVATION: similar treatment to both floors with portico.
BACK PATH RETURN ELEVATION AND REAR: harled with ashlar margins to both faces; Back Path fenestration is similar but simpler than those in frontage and S; 4-pane timber sash and case glazing throughout. Plain blocked wallhead; corniced wallhead stack. Plain rear to courtroom with piended slate roof.
Corniced end stacks at rear; slate roofs.
INTERIOR: original staircase with decorative cast-iron balusters.
Panelled doors and moulded door jambs; lst floor town hall with modern decoration. Court room with coffered ceiling; most fittings appear original.

BANFFSHIRE JOURNAL: Oct 18, 1970. ABERDEEN JOURNAL: September 30, 1868 and June 22 l869, advertisements for tenders. A E Mahood, BANFF AND
DISTRICT (1919), pp 23-4.

Source: Historic Scotland

Listed building text is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under licence: PSI Click-use licence number C2008002006.