Victoria Law Courts facts for kids
The Victoria Law Courts is a beautiful building in Birmingham, England. It's made of red bricks and a special material called terracotta. This building is where the Birmingham Magistrates' Court is located. It's considered a very important building, so it's a Grade I listed site.
Quick facts for kids Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham |
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| General information | |
| Type | Magistrates' court |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Corporation Street, Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | 52°29′0.75″N 1°53′36″W / 52.4835417°N 1.89333°W |
| Construction started | 1887 |
| Completed | 1891, (+1894, 1914) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Aston Webb & Ingress Bell |
| Main contractor | John Bowen and Sons |
| Awards and prizes | Grade I listed |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated: | 21 January 1970 |
| Reference #: | 1075605 |
Contents
History of the Victoria Law Courts
For many years in the 1800s, court cases in Birmingham were held in a building called the Public Office. But as the city grew, more and more court cases happened. By the early 1880s, it was clear that a bigger, special building was needed just for the courts.
Building a New Courthouse
The perfect spot for the new court building was found on Corporation Street. This land used to have an old workhouse, which was a place where poor people lived and worked. The workhouse was taken down as part of a big plan by the mayor, Joseph Chamberlain, to improve the city and remove old, crowded areas.
Royal Beginnings
The first stone of the new building was laid by Queen Victoria herself on March 23, 1887. This was a special year for her, as it was her Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years as queen.
The building was designed by two architects from London, Aston Webb and Ingress Bell. They won a competition to design the building. The outside of the building is covered in deep red terracotta, a type of baked clay, from Ruabon in North Wales. It has many detailed decorations made from this material.
Design and Features
The design of the building is quite interesting. The front facing Corporation Street isn't perfectly even. It has a central part that is symmetrical, with a long section on the left and a shorter one on the right.
The main entrance is very grand, with a large, round arch. On either side of the entrance, there are small towers called turrets. Above the main entrance, you can see a statue of Queen Victoria made by a sculptor named Harry Bates. Other figures on the building were created by William Silver Frith, based on designs by Walter Crane.
Opening and Later Changes
The courts were built by a local Birmingham company, John Bowen and Sons. The building was officially opened on July 21, 1891, by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Later, some parts were added to the building. A window was added on the left side between 1891 and 1894. More extensions were built along Newton Street in 1914.
Inside, the Great Hall and other areas are decorated with sandy-yellow terracotta. This terracotta was made by a company called Gibbs and Canning.
Modern Use of the Courts
For many years, serious criminal cases were heard here. However, in 1987, these types of cases moved to a new building called the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts.
Around 2010, there was an idea to move the magistrates' court to a brand new building nearby. But this plan was later stopped. The magistrates decided they wanted to stay in the historic Victoria Law Courts complex, and the government also cut the budget for new buildings. So, the Victoria Law Courts continues to be an important place for justice in Birmingham.
See also
In Spanish: Victoria Law Courts para niños
