The Royal Courts of Justice was largely paid for from the money left by those dying intestate.
The building contains over 1000 rooms and is so large that a man was once found having lived in the basement for several years unknown to anyone.
This was the last of the great Gothic Revival civic buildings constructed in London and is by far the most controversial. The design was done almost entirely by George Edmund Street down to individual carvings but despite this many feel it suffers from a mishmash of styles
The turreted frontage along the Strand is thought by many to be lacking focal points found in similarly designed buildings such as the monumental clock towers and soaring spires.
The landmark architecture can be found instead the building in the form of a sprawling Great Hall which stretches 72.5 metre long, 14.6 metres wide and 24.4 metres high.
Although the floor of the Great Hall has an elaborate mosaic on it, this was intended to seamlessly continue all the way up the walls to the vaulted ceiling. Unfortunately the architect's vision was never realised - Street had by this time died and those who had taken over the project failed to ask for the necessary funds desiring instead that the building be finished as on time and budget as possible.
Despite the fact it is a hard-wearing material with a good life-span, and much favoured in London since, the widespread use of Portland Stone which is essentially grey leads to the building lacking the visual warmth of the Houses of Parliament or St Pancras Station.
Companies
If your company has been involved with the Design/Build, Supply or Maintenance of this building please submit your details.
