Sessions Court, Police-Courts, etc. Birkenhead

BIRKENHEAD - The Sessions Court, in Chester Street, erected in 1886—7, at a cost of upwards of £40,000, and opened in April, 1887, is a building of stone in the Classic style, from designs by Messrs. T. D. Barry and Son, of Liverpool. The borough court of Quarter Sessions is held here, and there is also a court and offices for the Wirral Petty Sessions; here also are the police headquarters, and at the back is a bridewell.

BIRKENHEAD - The foundation-stone of the session court and police offices was laid on Tuesday. The building is Italian in style, and occupies an isolated site, with frontages on four streets. The basement is faced with Bessbrook granite, and the remainder of the facade with white Storeton stone, corresponding with the adjoining town-hall. The passages and corridors are lined with glazed bricks, made by Messrs. Ingham and Son, of Wortley. In the basement are 24 police cells arranged in two tiers, approached by inclined planes from a single entrance, and on this floor are kitchens and store- rooms. On the ground floor are police rooms, and on the first floor session and two smaller courts, and offices for clerks, magistrates, barristers, and rooms for witnesses, police, etc. The dadoes of the courts are of pitch pine. The heating is by open fireplaces and hot-water coils. The contract for erection, which is already commenced, has been taken by Messrs. Alexander Bleakley and Son, of Birkenhead, at £28,890. Mr. Peter Thomas is the clerk of works, and the architects are Messrs. Thomas D. Barry and Son, Commerce-court, Liverpool. [Building News 9 January 1885 page 69]

Reference           Builder 5 July 1884 page 41 – tenders
Reference           Building News 9 January 1885 page 69