Sessions House, Usk
| Sessions House | |
|---|---|
| File:Sessions House, Usk.jpeg | |
| General information | |
| Status | Grade II* listed |
| Town or city | Usk |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| 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
External links
Bibliography
- John Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, p. 593 ISBN 0-14-071053-1
