My favourite building: Minshull St Crown Court

Mike Charlesworth, a property partner at Glaisyers Solicitors in Manchester, expresses his admiration for the city’s Crown Court building on Minshull St.

What’s your favourite building?
Minshull Street Crown Court due to its grandeur.

When was it built?
Designed by Thomas Worthington, the construction of the building began in 1867 and was finished in 1873. It was extended in 1993.

What was its original function?
Originally built as the City Police and Sessions Court, it became more commonly known as Minshull Street Crown Court. It became a Grade II Listed Building in October 1974 and is still used today for its original function.

What is the style of architecture?
Worthington based his design on his earlier design for Ellen Wilkinson High School and on his failed competition bid to construct Manchester Town Hall.

Similar to the design of the Town Hall and the European gothic style of the time, Worthington was heavily influenced by Italian architecture. Worthington was a frequent visitor to Italy and admired its architecture and particularly those buildings found in Florence.

An examination of the building both from the inside and out shows the Italian influence. The building, like the Town Hall, features an enormous corner tower with a clock and a chimney stack styled as a campanille.

What do you like about it? How is it used?
As a lawyer, but not a litigator I have always been impressed by Minshull Street Crown Court, which is an extremely grand building given its use.

The entire building is constructed in red brick with sandstone dressing and has a steeply pitched slate roof. The design and use of red bricks was intended by Thomas Worthington to make the building stand out against the dark ‘satanic’ buildings of industrial Manchester and to this extent his intention was abundantly achieved.

Both internally and externally, there are large numbers of animal carvings by famous sculptors. 

For many years. the building was almost lost in its surroundings but following the clearance of dilapidated buildings, its feature as a significant landmark is now all too apparent. It has recently been restored to its original splendour by a complete programme of restoration, cleaning and refurbishment and everyone should visit it.

The main reason I like it is that if you try and put yourself in the shoes of Thomas Worthington he must have been bitterly disappointed at not winning the contract to design the Town Hall and perhaps felt that the design of Minshull Street Crown Court was less prestigious. 

However, even with strict limitations on budget he has nevertheless designed a building that rivals the Town Hall architecturally and whose use, while diminished, has stood the test of time.