Sessions House, Usk

Sessions House
General information
Status Grade II* listed
Town or city Usk
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°42′00″N 2°54′04″W / 51.7001°N 2.9010°W / 51.7001; -2.9010Coordinates: 51°42′00″N 2°54′04″W / 51.7001°N 2.9010°W / 51.7001; -2.9010
Construction started 1875
Completed 1878
Client Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions
Design and construction
Architect Thomas Henry Wyatt

The Sessions House at Usk, Wales, is a Victorian courthouse by Thomas Henry Wyatt of 1877.[1] The building was opened by Samuel Richard Bosanquet, of Dingestow Court, then Chairman of the Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions.[2] It is a Grade II* listed building as of 4 January 1974.[3]

The court is of mauve sandstone with dressings of Bath stone.[1] It is of five bays, with a cornice, parapet[4] and balustraded terrace.[3] It originally contained two courtrooms but Court Number 1 was gutted by fire in 1944 and was not re-built.[2] Court Number 2 "survives little altered."[1] "There is an impressive judge’s chair and the benches retain their original labels for Counsel, Solicitors, Reporters, Jury etc."[2] A passage under the dock leads through to Usk Prison which stands next door.[2]

The Sessions House saw two major nineteenth century trials: those of Margaret Mackworth, 2nd Viscountess Rhondda,[2] a prominent suffragette; and of Josef Garcia, a Spanish seaman, who was tried and convicted of the murder of William and Elizabeth Watkins of Llangybi and of their three youngest children Charlotte, Alice and Frederick in 1878.[2]

The building was purchased by Usk Town Council to mark the Millennium, and it is now used as the town hall and for community use.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 593
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sessions House". Usktown.co.uk. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  3. 1 2 Good Stuff IT Services (1974-01-04). "The Sessions House including balustraded terrace. – Usk – Monmouthshire – Wales". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  4. ↑ "Maryport Street, Sessions House, Usk | Site Details". Coflein. Retrieved 2012-02-12.

Bibliography

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