Monaghan Courthouse

Freestanding two-storey courthouse, built 1827, comprising five-bay front block with three-bay side elevations and pedimented three-bay breakfront comprising two centred half-fluted Doric columns and two flanking square piers surmounted by pediment with British Royal Coat-of-Arms to tympanum, projecting three-bay two-storey over basement wings to each side of rear, slightly recessed narrow two-bay two-storey over basement block to close rear of this U-plan arrangement, with further recessed two-storey block one-bay deep and six bays wide, easternmost bay being three storeys. Hipped slate roofs, pitched to rear gables of wings, with lead flashings, roofs concealed by parapet of ashlar sandstone, projecting carved sandstone string course at eaves level to front elevation, smooth-rendered chimneystacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ashlar sandstone walls to first floor of front elevation and side blocks, rusticated ashlar sandstone with double string course to ground floor of front elevation, dressed coursed rubble walls with tooled block-and-start quoins to rear and side elevations. Round-headed windows to first floor of side blocks and square-headed elsewhere, with timber sliding sash windows. Tripartite nine-over-nine pane to round-headed windows with spoked fanlights, nine-over-nine pane to first floor of front and side elevations of front block, and to all of rear block except easternmost rear bay which has six-over-six pane windows. All other windows are six-over-six pane except for intermediate rear block which has four-over-four pane windows. Front first floor windows have carved architraves, round-headed windows have tooled ashlar block-and-start surrounds and voussoirs, ashlar block-and-start surrounds elsewhere. Front elevation has square-headed door openings with automatic glass door unit, with contemporary steel doors to outer bays. Round-arch door openings to side elevations with ashlar surrounds, timber panelled doors and spoked timber fanlights. Front elevation flanked to east and west by half-hexagonal arch vehicular entrances,each having rusticated ashlar walls and voussoirs, battened timber double-leaf door, moulded cornice and parapet. Building served by plinth of ten steps fronting directly onto paved forecourt to Church Square. Courtyard to rear with squared, coursed sandstone boundary wall. Recent metal monument to victims of car bomb blast of May 1974 to front of building.