Justiciary Building, Edinburgh

The Justiciary Building is a judicial structure in the Lawnmarket in Edinburgh, Scotland. The structure, which operates in conjunction with similar facilities in Glasgow and Aberdeen, is dedicated for the use of the High Court of Justiciary, which is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. It is a Category B listed building.[1]

For the buildings in Glasgow, see Justiciary Buildings, Glasgow.
Justiciary Building, Edinburgh
Justiciary Building, Edinburgh
LocationLawnmarket, Edinburgh
Coordinates55.9498°N 3.1924°W / 55.9498; -3.1924
Built1937
ArchitectAlbert Pitcher and John Wilson Paterson
Architectural style(s)Neo-Georgian style
Listed Building – Category B
Official nameHigh Court (Former Sheriff Court), 413-431 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh
Designated13 August 1987
Reference no.LB27598
Justiciary Building, Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh
Justiciary Building, Edinburgh
Shown in Edinburgh

History

The first criminal justice building in Edinburgh was the old tolbooth which was located in the Old Town and was completed in about 1400.[2][3][4] After the tolbooth became inadequate, sheriff court hearings were transferred to the old county hall which had been built to a design by Archibald Elliot on the corner of the Lawnmarket and George IV Bridge in 1816.[5][lower-alpha 1]

The first dedicated Sheriff Court Building was established further to the southeast along George IV Bridge: it was designed by David Bryce in the Renaissance Revival style, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1868.[7][8] Bryce's building was demolished to make way for the National Library of Scotland in 1937.[9]

The current building was commissioned as a new Sheriff Court Building to replace Bryce's building on George IV Bridge. It was designed by Albert Pitcher and John Wilson Paterson of HM Office of Works in the Neo-Georgian style, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1937. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the Lawnmarket. The central section of three bays, which was projected forward, featured an entrance with a large keystone on the ground floor, a recessed round headed window on the first floor and a blind panel on the second floor. The other bays were fenestrated by square sash windows on the ground floor, tall sash windows on the first floor and square sash windows on the second floor. The first floor windows in the central section were flanked by huge Doric order pilasters supporting an frieze with triglyphs and guttae as well as a pediment containing a carved figure of justice. Internally, the principal rooms were a large marble-lined entrance hall and a series of courtrooms.[1]

After the Sheriff Court moved to the new courthouse in Chambers Street in September 1994,[10] the building was extensively remodelled to a design by David le Sueur to accommodate the High Court of Justiciary, which is the supreme criminal court in Scotland.[11][12] A wall hanging designed by Alice Kettle was installed at the top of the staircase,[13] and a statue to commemorate the life of the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, David Hume, was carved by Alexander Stoddart and unveiled outside the building by the Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Sir Stewart Sutherland, on 21 November 1997.[14][15]

See also

Notes
  1. Lothian Chambers now occupies this site.[6]

References
  1. Historic Environment Scotland. "High Court (Former Sheriff Court), 413-431 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh (LB27598)". Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  2. "Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1403-1528". British History Online. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. "The Tolbooths, Guard House and Weigh House". Parliament Square, Edinburgh. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Edinburgh, High Street, Tolbooth (52447)". Canmore. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  5. Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy (1845). The Statistical Account of Edinburghshire. William Blackwood. p. 717.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "Midlothian County Buildings, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh (LB27674)". Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  7. "Sheriff Court". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  8. "New Sheriff Court, Edinburgh". Illustrated London News. Vol. 50. 1 June 1867. p. 552.
  9. Historic Environment Scotland. "Edinburgh, George IV Bridge, Sheriff Court House (112520)". Canmore. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  10. "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court". Scottish Courts and Tribunals. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  11. "About the High Court". Scottish Courts and Tribunals. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  12. "High Court of Justiciary". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  13. "High Court of the Justiciary". Door Open Days. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  14. "Statue of David Hume, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, by Edinburgh-born artist, Alexander Stoddart, unveiled in 1995". Columbia College. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  15. Historic Environment Scotland. "Edinburgh, Lawnmarket, David Hume Statue (179670)". Canmore. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
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