Building record 1160/90/1 - County Hall, George Row Frontage (West Wing)

C18th house rebuilt by James Milne. Remodelling by Edmund Law, 1890, further alterations by Aston Webb circa 1900. Ashlar. 2 storeys with dentil cornice to entablature, blocking course.

{1} C18th house rebuilt by James Milne. Remodelling by Edmund Law, 1890, further alterations by Aston Webb circa 1900. Ashlar. 2 storeys with dentil cornice to entablature, blocking course. Rusticated ground floor with Tuscan pilasters. 1st floor Roman Ionic half columns. 5 sash windows, ground floor round heads with mask keystones, 1st floor eared architrave surrounds under alternate segmental and triangular pediments on consoles, central pediment broken, all beneath oblong panels with swags in relief. Oval council chamber by Edmund Law, 1890; entrance hall, octagon room and staircase by Aston Webb. Judge's Lodgings, Sessions House, County Hall, County Council Offices and Nos 8, 8A, 9 and 9A form a group.

{2} C18th house rebuilt 1845 by James Milne; remodelling by Edmund Law in 1890; further alterations by Aston Webb circa 1900; ashlar; 2 storeys; interior half oval council chamber by Edmund Law in 1890; entrance hall and octagonal room and staircase by Aston Webb.

{3} C18th house.

{4} 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.

(6) Bibliographic reference for the SMR re County Gaol, County Hall, Judges Lodgings and Sessions House. The book contains plans plus one photo of the Sessions House and front of County Hall taken before 1885. A plan included in the book shows the extent of County Property 'as it existed between the years 1826 and 1880.'

{10} (SP 75496041) County Hall (NAT)

{11} Two photos, one dated 1993, the other undated, but probably the same;

{13} Three photos, one dated October 1987, the others probably the same;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/354 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), DOE(HHR) Dist.of Northampton Northants. Jan. 197, H14 p.67 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

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

<4> BBC, 2012, Your Paintings, (unchecked) (Website). SNN108558.

<5> 2003, County Hall (entrance area and undercroft) (Photographs). SNN106876.

<6> 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.

<7> Gould J., 2000, The Culworth Gang, p.38-48 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102514.

<8> Bassir A., 2017, Historic building recording and archaeological observation at the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery and the Old Gaol, Northampton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN110819.

<9> Bassir, A, 2021, The history and development of Northampton Country Gaol and Northampton Museum & Art Gallery (Article). SNN112925.

<10> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1:2500 1964 (Map). SNN112944.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<12> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 443 (Book). SNN111989.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

Record last edited

May 21 2025 11:28AM