Designed by William Newton, the Assembly rooms were opened in race week 1776 amid
much publicity. The Georgian neo-classical façade with simple windows inset between
Ionic columns creates a symmetrical classical frontage considered to be one of the finest
in the country. The heavily rusticated ground floor façade adds to the classical virtues of
the building, which is Grade 1 listed.

Like the Assembly Rooms ,the adjacent County Court building was built of ashlar
masonry, and completed to a design by Charles Reeve, a Government Architect, in1865.
The building façade is reminiscent of Florentine palazzo architecture and sits comfortably
adjacent to its neo classical neighbour. Used as law courts until 1990, the building is now
occupied by solicitors.

 

Painting size 530mm x 335mm, 2009.