'The Courthouse refurb plans to go to jury' - Knutsford, Cheshire, UK.
N 53° 18.141 W 002° 22.445
30U E 541711 N 5906088
The Sessions Courthouse is located on Toft Road in Knutsford.
Waymark Code: WM137DD
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/03/2020
Views: 4
Knutsford Sessions House, formerly part of Knutsford Goal is a Grade II* listed building.
The description given by British Listed Buildings reads as follows;
"SJ 7478 KNUTSFORD TOFT ROAD
(West side)
792-1/3/114
Sessions House
15.12.1954
GV II*
Sessions House, formerly part of gaol, the cell blocks now demolished. 1815-1818. By George Moneypenny. The main block flanked by curtain walls screening court rooms to right, and caretaker's house to left. Single storey. Main block has central portico with paired Ionic columns carrying high parapet. Pedimented lantern over. Side wings each side divided to the left by pilasters into 3 bays, with caretaker's house occupying the northernmost bay, beyond an arched entrance to rear. Caretaker's house has doorway to right, and tripartite window to the left, with two 4-pane sash windows above. Similar screen wall to the right of the main block with raised roof of top-lit court room. 3 round-arched windows over segmentally-arched sashes each side of central canted bay in the rear of this range.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
Listing NGR: SJ7515778436"
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"The historic building was built in 1818 with a grand opening held in 1820. It was extended to accommodate 700 prisoners in 1847 and further extended in 1867. At least seven executions took place here.
It closed its doors to prisoners in 1915.
It was then taken over by the War Office for Military Offenders.
During WWI the prison housed conscientious objectors, who refused to "take up arms".
After the Easter 1916 uprising in Dublin those arrested were sent to various jails throughout England, including almost 600 who were sent to Knutsford during May and June. A company of German prisoners were also housed in "A" block, bringing the gaol somewhere near to full capacity.
Later it was used as a test school for prospective Church of England ordinants and was demolished in 1934."
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The building was taken over by Flat Cap Hotels in 2016. They completed the first phase of its conversion into The Court House Hotel in 2018, creating 60 full and part-time jobs in Knutsford.
A news article by Gemma Sproston, about the proposal for the second phase of the buildings conversion, appeared in the Knutsford Guardian on 26th September 2020 and reads as follows;
'The Courthouse refurb plans to go to jury'"MULTI-million-pound plans to create a new hotel, restaurant and bar at The Courthouse in Knutsford have been submitted.
Flat Cap Hotels plans to turn the jail cells at the former law courts into boutique accommodation and open further original rooms in its second phase of renovating the Grade II listed property.
By opening up access to the area most travelled by the accused, patrons will be able to take ‘the long walk’ and spend a night in the cells – albeit in considerable more luxury than previous residents would have experienced.
This new wave of renovation will also include a major refurbishment of the restaurant and bar, to allow for safe social distancing, plus new outdoor areas including a feature rooftop terrace.
There are plans to soften the austere frontage and the creation of ‘rooms to Zoom’ will allow teams to safely huddle in a modern and unique meeting space.
A spokesman for the hoteliers said: “We have worked very hard throughout the past 12 months with our team of specialists to bring forward a proposal that would preserve the abundance of period features and historical nature of the building.
“Our plans have considered the local demand for quality accommodation, that will not only encourage visitors to the beautiful market town but also help support employment and the local daily footfall and trading in Knutsford.
“The Courthouse lends itself particularly well to the concept we are proposing. It brings a new lease of life to the stunning architecture and opens up the venue and it’s fascinating spaces for visitors to feel relaxed in and enjoy.”
Flat Cap Hotels, took over the historical building in 2016 and completed the first phase of its conversion in 2018, creating 60 full and part-time jobs in Knutsford.
The company has worked with heritage conservation consultants, Kathryn Sathers and Associates, and specialist heritage architects, Hayes and Partners throughout the design process.
Subject to planning permission from Cheshire East Council, the refurbishment works will be extensive, with the launch of the new amenities expected by 2021."
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