Campbeltown Sheriff Court
| Campbeltown Sheriff Court | |
|---|---|
 The building in 2013 | |
| Location | Castlehill, Campbeltown |
| Coordinates | 55°25′22″N 5°36′26″W / 55.4228°N 5.6073°W |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | David Cousin |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival style |
Listed Building – Category C(S) | |
| Official name | Campbeltown Sheriff Court and Justice Of The Peace Court including boundary wall, Castlehill, Campbeltown |
| Designated | 28 March 1996 |
| Reference no. | LB43057 |
  Shown within Argyll and Bute | |
Campbeltown Sheriff Court is a judicial building on Castlehill in Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute in Scotland. The building, which continues to be used as a courthouse, is a Category C listed building.[1]
History
[edit]During the first half of the 19th century, court hearings took place at Campbeltown Town Hall in Main Street. However, in the mid-19th century, court officials decided that a dedicated courthouse was needed. The burgh council converted a mid-18th century building at 5 Bolgam Street for judicial use but was unable to reach agreement with court officials over the annual rent.[2][3] Court officials decided instead to commission a new building: the site they selected was appropriately placed, close to the old prison on Castlehill.[4][5][6]
The new building was designed by David Cousin in the Gothic Revival style, built by a local contractor, Robert Weir, in rubble masonry and was completed in 1871. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto Castlehill. The central bay, which was slightly projected forward, was formed by a three-stage tower. There was an arched doorway flanked by colonettes supporting a moulded surround in the first stage, a pair of narrow windows in the second stage, and a belfry with louvred openings in the third stage, all surmounted by a mansard roof. The outer bays were fenestrated by tripartite mullioned windows on the ground floor and by bipartite mullioned and tramsomed windows with pediments and finials on the first floor. Internally, the principal rooms were the courtroom on the first floor, which featured a vaulted ceiling, and two prison cells.[7]
A single storey wing to the west formed part of the original design and a single storey wing to the east was added in 1903.[1]
In March 1973, Paul and Linda McCartney appeared in the court, accused of illegal cultivation of cannabis at their property, High Park Farm near Campbeltown: they were both found guilty and were required to pay £100 fines.[8][9][10]
An extensive programme of refurbishment works, involving replacement of the boilers, was completed in 2022,[11] enabling the building to continue to serve as the venue for sheriff court hearings in the area.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Campbeltown Sheriff Court and Justice Of The Peace Court including boundary wall, Castlehill, Campbeltown (Category C Listed Building) (LB43057)". Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "5 Bolgam Street, former gaol and courthouse (Category B Listed Building) (LB22915)". Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Campbeltown Old Gaol and Courthouse, 5, Bolgam Street, Campbeltown". Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Campbeltown, Castlehill, Prison And Police Office (143846)". Canmore. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Ralston Road, Police Station, with boundary walls and gatepiers (LB43128)". Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1st edition, 1843–1882". Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Inspection of the Conditions in which Prisoners are Transported and Held in Sheriff and JP Courts while Under Escort" (PDF). H. M. Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland. 20 March 2012. p. 28. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Badman, Keith (2009). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970–2001. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857120014.
- ^ Doyle, Tom (2013). Man on the Run Paul McCartney in the 1970s. Polygon. ISBN 978-0857906267.
- ^ "Arrested: Paul McCartney". Time. 30 January 1984. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Maintenance 2022/23" (PDF). Scottish Legal News. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Campbeltown Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court". Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. Retrieved 3 October 2024.