Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast |
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Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast
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| Location | Chichester Street, Belfast |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Sir Richard Allison and James Grey West |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
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Listed Building – Grade A
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| Official name: Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street, Belfast | |
| Designated | 30 November 1988 |
| Reference no. | HB 26/50/180 |
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The Royal Courts of Justice in Chichester Street, Belfast, is a very important building. It is the main home for the highest courts in Northern Ireland. These courts handle serious legal cases. The building houses the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, the High Court of Northern Ireland, and the Crown Court in Northern Ireland. It is also a special "Grade A listed building," meaning it's protected because of its historical and architectural importance.
History of the Courts
Before 1920, the most important courts for all of Ireland were located in Dublin. However, a law called the Government of Ireland Act 1920 changed things. This law meant that the British Government had to create a separate court system just for Northern Ireland. This led to the need for a new main court building in Belfast.
Building the Royal Courts
The Royal Courts of Justice building was designed by two architects, Sir Richard Allison and James Grey West. They chose a style called Neoclassical, which looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. Construction started in 1928 and finished in 1933.
The building has a grand, balanced front with many windows. In the middle, there's a special entrance with four tall Corinthian order columns. These columns support a decorative top section. Above the main entrance, on the first floor, you can see a carving of the Royal coat of arms. This is the official symbol of the United Kingdom. The building was officially opened in 1933 by the Governor of Northern Ireland, the Duke of Abercorn.
Safety and Changes
During a period known as the Troubles, the building needed extra protection. Large security screens were put around it to keep people safe. The building was damaged by bombs in 1989 and again in January 1997. After these events, security was made even stronger.
Later, a new court complex was built nearby. This is called the Laganside Courts Complex. It was finished in 2002 and cost about £50 million. This new complex added many more courtrooms, including six for the Crown Court, six for magistrates' courts, and four for county courts. It helped to replace older court buildings in the area, like the Newtownabbey Courthouse and the Crumlin Road Courthouse.
