Basnett street

[researchnut]

Hi folks,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, so feel free to move.

Can anyone tell me, which building in Basnett street (the side of M&S) in the city centre, was the old Magistrates court building?

I think it may have been opposite the side of M&S, the old George Henry Lees shop, but not to sure. There doesn't seem to be anything to suggest a court building was there, a plaque etc.

If anyone can offer any info please do.

Thanks and keep up the good work

[Ged]

I don't know myself, but is there anything leading you to think there was in fact a Magistrates court in that street?

[researchnut]

Hi Ged,

a magistrates court has been mentioned in several newspaper archives from 1877, while researching a case I'm working on.

thanks anyway mate

[Johnny Robbo]

This is an extract from the 1881 Gores Directory, showing the County Magistrates Office at no 42 on the George Henry Lee side. This was the next to last property before Williamson Square. According to the John Lewis website, Lee's rebuilt the whole of the Basnett street frontage of their shop in 1910, so presumably they acquired nos 38 to 44 sometime between 1881 & 1910.

WEST SIDE.
4 Burton James, artificial florist
6 Ker Robert Preston <k Sons, Seedsmen
8 Fleming Thomas K. boot maker
10, 12. 14, 16 & 18 Bon March'*
Drapery Establishment, general
drapers
here is Leigh street
20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30', 32, 34 & 36 Lee
George Henry & Co, silk mercers
& general drapers
38 Jones John Lloyd, woollen draper
40- Baker Charles, oyster rooms
42 County Magistrates' Office,
George Hy. Eaton,) clerks to the
William Swift, 3 magistrates
44 Rainbow, Charles Baker

[gregs dad]

We have this on the corner of Preston St

[ChrisGeorge]

Lovely photograph, Joe. It's great to see this fine old architecture.

Chris

[ChrisGeorge]

This is an extract from the 1881 Gores Directory, showing the County Magistrates Office at no 42 on the George Henry Lee side. This was the next to last property before Williamson Square. According to the John Lewis website, Lee's rebuilt the whole of the Basnett street frontage of their shop in 1910, so presumably they acquired nos 38 to 44 sometime between 1881 & 1910.

WEST SIDE. . . .

42 County Magistrates' Office,
George Hy. Eaton,) clerks to the
William Swift, 3 magistrates

Hello researchnut

Yes it looks as if this was just the County Magistrates' Office rather than it being the Magistrates Courts, unless there's something else to make you think the actual courts were there at one time. But you are correct, a number of mentions on the web appears to confirm the Courts were in Basnett Street.

Chris

[researchnut]

Thanks lads,

Using the Daily Post during my research, it reports on the accused being 'in the dock before the magistrates', and also reports on the hearing saying there was a large public attendance in the court at Basnett street.

This makes me think that there must have been more than just a magistrates office.

Thanks again

[Samp]

This is an extract from the 1881 Gores Directory, showing the County Magistrates Office at no 42 on the George Henry Lee side. This was the next to last property before Williamson Square. According to the John Lewis website, Lee's rebuilt the whole of the Basnett street frontage of their shop in 1910, so presumably they acquired nos 38 to 44 sometime between 1881 & 1910.

WEST SIDE.
4 Burton James, artificial florist
6 Ker Robert Preston <k Sons, Seedsmen
8 Fleming Thomas K. boot maker
10, 12. 14, 16 & 18 Bon March'*
Drapery Establishment, general
drapers
here is Leigh street
20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30', 32, 34 & 36 Lee
George Henry & Co, silk mercers
& general drapers
38 Jones John Lloyd, woollen draper
40- Baker Charles, oyster rooms
42 County Magistrates' Office,
George Hy. Eaton,) clerks to the
William Swift, 3 magistrates
44 Rainbow, Charles Baker

That is a rare piece of research that will make a few people sit up and think.

Well done Robbo!

[Ged]

Well done folks.