Middlesex Guildhall, London

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Middlesex Guildhall, London
by Adrian Pingstone (public domain)

Middlesex Guildhall Location Map

The Middlesex Guildhall is a building on the south-west corner of Parliament Square in London. It is used as the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom since 2009. In its previous roles, it had been the Crown Court as well as the Middlesex County Council.

Middlesex Guildhall was built between 1906 and 1913, in what was termed an "art nouveau gothic theme" (some literature call it renaissance style). Medieval-looking gargoyles and other architectural ornamentation were added to it by Henry Charles Fehr. There is a doorway at the rear dating back to the 17th century which comes from Tathill Fields Bridewell prison which used to stand there.

The Guildhall was chosen to house the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom through the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. It garnered criticism from conservation groups concerned over the likelihood that the refurbishment of Middlesex Guildhall may be unsympathetic to the original structure. English Heritage called three main Court interiors of the Guildhall as "unsurpassed by any other courtroom of the period in terms of the quality and completeness of their fittings".

At the entrance hall are memorial panels bearing the signatures of King George of Greece, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and King Haakon of Norway. The panels commemorate the use of the courtrooms as maritime courts of the Allies during the Second World War.

Getting there

Nearest Tube Station: Westminster and St James's Park

What to see

Middlesex Guildhall is not a tourist sight, being the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. However, members of the public are allowed to attend court sittings.