Nottingham Buildings

The Guildhall, Burton Street.

This imposing building which replaced the previous Guildhall that stood in Weekday Cross was designed by London architects, Verity & Hunt and opened in 1888.  It was until quite recently the seat of the Nottingham City Magistrates and Crown Courts. It also has cells in the basement that were once used by the police based at the Central Police Station on North Church Street to hold prisoners.  Number 1 & 2 courts are very imposing and magnificent examples of Victorian design with beautiful mellow oak paneling and other woodwork.  At present they stand unused except for the staging of mock trials by law students from the university. The building and its interior are in a good state of repair and decoration, but it 's difficult to see to what alternative use it could be put to ensure its long term survival. A very similar court at The Shire Hall is already being preserved as a museum as part of 'The Galleries of Justice', so such a role for this building is not really an option.

News Update - March 2016:
It has been announced that The Guildhall site, along with Central Fire Station and Central Police Station are to be re-developed by Miller Birch. The company has submitted proposals for The Guildhall to be extended and transform into a four star hotel, though this is I believe dependent upon an hotelier being found who will  take it on. Also included are plans for offices, conference facilities and sadly, yet more student accommodation.

News Update - August 2020
Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of Guildhall into an hotel. Whilst this will see the restoration of the actual Guildhall itself which will server as the hotel entrance, and courts 1 & 2, the permission also includes the building of an ugly tower block to the rear of the existing building that will house the bedrooms and be linked by a walkway.  An artists impression in The Nottingham Post shows the finished development and to my mind the tower block just doesn't sit right with this fine Victorian building.  Still, I suppose we have to be thankful that they don't want to demolish Guildhall.

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