Architecture

Since 2009, the former Middlesex Guildhall has been the home of the UK Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The Guildhall itself was opened in 1913, originally housing two courts and the offices of Middlesex County Council. It was designed by Scottish architect James S. Gibson (1861 – 1951), with his partners Frank Skipworth and Walter Gordon. The sculptures and features that adorn the building were designed by Henry Fehr and Carlo Magnoni.

The renovation of the Middlesex Guildhall preserved the historic features of the building and sought to facilitate the nature of hearings at the Supreme Court. As an appeals court, hearings centre on discussions of points of law rather than trials by jury.

This careful renovation was completed by conservation architects Feilden + Mawson, supported by Foster and Partners, and in consultation with the Law Lords, Westminster City Council and English Heritage on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

The Middlesex Guildhall Art Collection Trustees, the Middlesex Regiment, the Westminster Society and Thorney Island Society were also involved, along with statutory consultees.

Exteriors

Construction of the Middlesex Guildhall took place between 1906 and 1913. The exterior is made of Portland stone supported by an internal steel frame. Its architectural style is described as neo-gothic with Flemish and Burgundian references.

The former Guildhall is decorated with parapets, dormers, and three ornate friezes which stand above the entrance to the Court.

The architect behind the Middlesex Guildhall, James Gibson, entrusted the design and creation of these friezes to Henry Charles Fehr and Carlo Domenico Magnoni. Fehr had previously designed architecture for West Riding (of Yorkshire) County Council (opened in 1898) and Cardiff City Hall (opened in 1906). Fehr drew upon both the Gothic revivalist tradition and the Arts and Craft movement in his designs.

The frieze on the left-hand side when facing the entrance to the Middlesex Guildhall, depicts King John receiving the Magna Carta from the barons at Runnymede in 1215. An event of significant importance in English legal and constitutional history, this depiction places the law at the forefront of the architecture of the Guildhall. This connection to English (and later British) legal history has been meaningful to the Middlesex Guildhall (which housed two courtrooms forming the county sessions), Middlesex Crown Court, and finally the UK Supreme Court.

The central frieze, immediately above the entrance, depicts Henry III granting a charter to Westminster Abbey. The Abbey saw considerable rebuilding and extension under Henry III’s reign. In the centre of this frieze is a carving of the Middlesex coat of arms above a depiction of the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace. This frieze emphasises the building’s connection to the history of Middlesex and also its proximity to Westminster, and in particular Westminster Abbey. The site of the UK Supreme Court has frequently been closely linked to Middlesex’s history, previously housing the Sanctuary Tower and Old Belfry of Westminster Abbey, a monastery, a tavern, and then a guildhall.

The final frieze (on the right-hand side) is perhaps the most interesting. The frieze pictures Lady Jane Grey being offered the Crown of England by John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland in 1553. This event took place in Syon House, which fell within the borders of Middlesex. Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for a handful of days in July 1553 between the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I and is often nicknamed the ‘Nine Days Queen’. This was a unique episode in English history, partially caused by Edward VI’s ministers seeking to find a monarch willing to defend the reformed Church of England. Supporters of Mary mobilised quickly following Lady Jane Grey’s accession, and Grey’s supporters dissolved in the face of Mary’s forces.

Lady Jane Grey would feature prominently in martyrological and literary accounts of English history, and in paintings, but seldom in sculptures (such as the one found at the UK Supreme Court). This frieze depicts an episode of English history that is not particularly well-known.

The Flags

The Union Flag is flown every day, with the flag displaying the emblem of The UK Supreme Court flying below it, on each day on which the Supreme Court is either sitting or delivering a judgment (on recommendation from the British Flag Institute).

The following flags will be flown in addition to the Union Flag taking precedence over the Supreme Court flag:

• 1 March – The Red Dragon.

• 23 April – St George’s Flag.

• 16 May (Middlesex Day) – The Middlesex Flag.

• The Saturday before Remembrance Sunday in November – The Middlesex Regiment Flag.

• 30 November – The Saltire.

The semi-circular stone benches opposite the main entrance are decorated with a poem called 'Lines for The Supreme Court' by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion:

Tides tumbled sand through seas long-lost to earth;
Sand hardened into-stone – stone cut, then brought
To frame the letter of our four nations’ law
And square the circle of a single court.

Here Justice sits and lifts her steady scales
Within the Abbey’s sight and Parliaments
But independent of them both. And bound
By truth of principle and argument.

A thousand years of judgment stretch behind –
The weight of rights and freedoms balancing
With fairness and with duty to the world:
The clarity time-honoured thinking brings.

New structures but an old foundation stone:
The mind of Justice still at liberty
Four nations separate but linked as one:
The light of reason falling equally.

Interior details

Following the abolition of Middlesex as a judicial and administrative area by 1964, the Guildhall was converted to Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court in 1971 (with further renovations taking place between 1982 and 1988). These renovations reflected the new function of the building.

As a Crown Court, original features of the Guildhall, such as the two courtyards designed by Gibson, were obscured by machinery, cells, and partitions. The building housed seven courtrooms.

During the renovations that took place prior to the opening of the Court in 2009, great care was taken to maximise the amount of natural light in the building. The previously obscured light wells were cleared, creating bright spaces. The Supreme Court café is situated at the base of one of these light wells.

Cells were converted into a permanent exhibition and the entrance hall was redesigned. It contains etched glass panels designed by Bettina Furnee with elements of The Supreme Court emblem and phrases of the Judicial Oath.

Some of the original furniture, crafted by Henry Fehr, was restored and reused in the renovation. Some of this furniture also found a new home in Snaresbrook Crown Court, which is based in the London Borough of Redbridge.

The stained glass visible around the Court was designed and installed in 1913 by Abbott and Co, now based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. For more information on the stained glass see this guide: Guide to the stained glass of the building (PDF) (Thanks to Rupert Barnes of the Historic Counties Trust, and for reference material from the Dictionary of National Biography for their assistance). 

In Courtroom 2, you will find the Supreme Court emblem prominently displayed. The emblem features four plants representing the four nations of the United Kingdom. 

The Supreme Court’s official emblem was designed by Yvonne Holton, Herald Painter at the Court of Lord Lyon in Scotland. It uses traditional symbolism, yet is delicate and modern at the same time.

The emblem combines four heraldic elements, equally represented in the design, reflecting the jurisdictions within the United Kingdom.

This includes a five-petalled wild rose (England), the leaves of a leek (Wales), a purple thistle (Scotland), and blue five-petalled flax flower (Northern Ireland).

The same motif is represented in the pop-art carpet designed by Sir Peter Blake, which can be found throughout the Court building.

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