Building record 1160/103/3 - Judge's Lodgings, Northampton

18th-century house, adjoins the Sessions House on the east.

{1} Adjoins Sessions House on east. C18th with ashlar front of basement and 3 storeys. Plinth, frieze, cornice and parapet. 5 sash windows with glazing bars in reveals. Central doorway has architrave surround to 8 fielded panelled door, frieze, pediment on consoles. Judge's Lodgings, Sessions House, County Hall, County Council Offices and Nos 8, 8A, 9 and 9A form a group.

{2} Adjoins Sessions House to west; C18th with ashlar front of basement; 3 storeys.

{3} C18th house.

{5} NCC art collection at County Hall reflects important aspects of the county's judicial and political history and dates from the 17th century. The collection falls into three parts: those relating to the authority of the courts, those reflecting the County Council's role and history, and the more eclectic group furnishing the Judges' Lodgings.
Two of the oldest paintings in the collection are the full length portraits of William III and Mary II by Wolfgange William Claret of 1689. They hang in the Prius Nisi Court and symbolise the rising judicial authority of Northampton's Sessions House, built in 1675 after the town's devastation by fire. In contrast, the 19th century Council Chamber is lined with paitings of former Chairmen and County Councillors including one of Cllr Dora Oxenham by 20th century modernist painter Kyffin Williams.

{7} Photo dated 1993;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/55 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), DOE(HHR) Dist. of Northampton Northants. Jan. 1976, H14 p.66 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.46 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<4> Markham C.A., 1885, History of The County Buildings of Northamptonshire: 1. The County Gaol 2. The County Hall 3. The Judges Lodgings & County Bridewells, (unchecked) (Book). SNN105239.

<5> BBC, 2012, Your Paintings, (unchecked) (Website). SNN108558.

<6> Cadman, G., 2008, Sessions House and Judges Lodgings, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN106852.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

Record last edited

Jul 12 2023 12:45PM