Four Courts

Freestanding courthouse, built 1776-1802, partially destroyed by fire and rebuilt 1924-31. Comprising five-bay two-storey centre block having pedimented hexastyle Corinthian portico to front (south) elevation, colonnaded drum and dome over, flanked by three-storey L-plan wings with arcaded screens enclosing courtyards within, later irregular-plan block to rear (north) added between 1837 and the early twentieth century, comprising two-storey corridor between main building and rear block, adjoining three-storey blocks to east and west. Hipped slate roofs, flat to central block, having granite chimneystacks with clay pots, granite parapets, Portland stone balustraded parapet to central block, having statues of Authority and Wisdom to each corner, and over pediment to front, figures of Moses, Justice and Wisdom represented in Portland stone. Copper stepped saucer dome to roof, on cylindrical granite drum surrounded by Portland stone Corinthian columns with entablature. Recessed square-headed panels to upper level, recessed round-headed niches to lower level of drum. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Classical entablature with dentillated carved Portland stone cornice over ashlar granite walls throughout, carved granite platband over rusticated granite to ground floor. Lined-and-ruled render to west elevation and rear (north) elevation of main building, granite block-and-start quoins. Portland stone Corinthian columns to portico, with responding pilasters and matching pilasters to front elevation, carved entablature with cornice with modillions and dentils, plain frieze. Concave curved wall behind columns of portico, rusticated granite walls, decorative carved Portland stone frieze. Round-headed niches with carved architrave surrounds and triangular pediments to first floor. Square-headed blind openings to ground floor. Carved roundels with lions' heads. Square-headed window openings throughout, carved architrave surrounds to first and second floor windows, and six-over-six pane timber sash windows, carved cornices over first floor windows. Round-headed openings to south elevation of courtyards forming open arcade, now glazed. Dressed granite surrounds and sills to windows to west elevation. Round-headed niches with panelled tympana to front elevation, having square-headed window openings with carved architrave surrounds, triangular pediments and six-over-six pane timber sash windows. Continuous carved Portland stone sill course to front. Round-headed door opening to front having stepped reveal, double-leaf timber panelled door, carved lintel and spoked fanlight, opening onto paved platform. Arcade of round-headed openings forming screen to front of courtyard, cast-iron railings on granite plinths to openings, Portland stone balustrades over, carved granite central triumphal arch with cornice with mutules and with decorative Portland stone carving to walls of arch, and surmounted with carved sculpture with harp. Double-leaf cast-iron-gates to arches. Central rotunda below dome to interior, double-height ashlar granite walls, some replaced since 1922, with projecting piers having round-headed niches and square-headed recesses, carved granite string courses, paired half-fluted Corinthian columns, comprising steel stanchions surrounded by artificial stone, supporting classical entablature with alternating modillions and coffers with floral motif. Plasterwork coffering to ceiling of inner dome, guilloche pattern to ribs, oculus to top. Square-headed splayed windows to springing of dome. Round-headed door openings to four main courts at diagonal points of rotunda having carved granite archivolt and double-leaf glazed timber doors and fanlights. Transverse oval vestibule to north of rotunda, Kerry sandstone walls with pilasters, coffered ceiling having balustraded light well, coffered ceiling and rooflight to first floor. Elliptical stairwell to east of vestibule. Decorative plaster to walls and ceilings of courtrooms, pilasters, panels, fascia, dentillated cornices, and coffered ceilings. Timber galleries to rear and pews to floor, raised panelled timber desks to front. Fretwork panels, rosettes and bead-and-reel mouldings to ceilings. Plaster moulding to wall to corridor depicting scales of Justice.