2-979-694 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The New Townhall, Blackburn, 1857. Civic building designed by James Patterson. 'The style is Italian...The police office and prison are at the east end of the buildings, the entrance to the prison-yard being under a rusticated gateway...On the right is a news-room; on the left...are the council-room, Town Clerk's office and muniment-room. Behind the vestibule...is the police court, lighted by a glass dome...On one side of this court is the Mayor's parlour, a smaller police court, clerks' office, attorneys', and other rooms; and on the other side is the public entrance to the arge court, and rooms for the clerks connected with the business of the court. On the east side are the police office and the prison, containing eighteen cells. The first floor is reached by two staircases, one from each end of the corridor behind the vestibule'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.