The very impressive Magistrate’s chair with Baroque styling based on the design of the Old Bailey. It is very easy to imagine a red gowned, white wigged High Court judge sitting here ready to announce sentence.

The Old Bailey judge’s chair for comparison.

Court 1 is still in very regular use and is little changed, except probably, for the protective glass around the dock.

The Old Bailey Courtroom for comparison.

A view from the Magistrates bench

The dock itself looks almost as intimidating as the bench does in the other direction!

The two pairs of double doors have a wonderful feel about them.

The Court clock sports the name T. Worthington

A row of circular windows add to the court’s character

A view of a corner of the ceiling

And finally, a view of the impressive skylight

The original waiting room

And the original waiting room benches where many an anxious wait would have been experienced

Columns which add to the elegance of the building

And lovely attention to detail

Admiring the doors, it is easy to forget the dread they may have held for some

Stonework in the waiting room proudly informs:
COUNTY BOROUGH OF BURTON UPON TRENT
THESE COURTS WERE OPENED BY HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR
COUNCILLOR THOMAS JENKINS
ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TEN

Slightly disappointingly, this is the ceiling directly under the impressive dome. I was rather hoping to be able to see the inside of the dome

A second clock to match the one in Court 1

The impressive window that can be seen from the front of the court

The stained glass window sports the Burton coat of arms and moto

The modern day Court 2 has a much less intimidating feel

Court 3, used for the least serious and family cases, feels almost like a meeting room

The new waiting room