A dignified classical county building continues to administer justice after successive adaptations of its nineteenth-century public rooms.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1834-36; adapted and extended
- Architect / designer
- Hugh Marr; later court adaptations
- Type
- Classical county building and courthouse
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB37016)
- OS grid reference
- NS 88087 43828
Architecture and continuing use
A formal ashlar frontage, balanced openings and a strongly articulated entrance give the court an institutional presence. Behind it, phased accommodation reflects changing county and judicial needs.
Its story
Built for county administration, the complex acquired an increasingly specialised court role. Modern refurbishment retained the historic civic shell while providing the security and services required of an operating court.
Why it is included
Continuing legal use, prominent classical design and a long association with county government and justice make the building a key civic record.
What to notice
- The symmetrical Hope Street elevation.
- Classical entrance detail expressing public authority.
- Junctions between the original block and later accommodation.
Reading the surroundings
A functioning court has security screening, controlled photography and restricted rooms. Check official opening, accessibility and attendance information before visiting.
Timeline
- 1834-36 Hugh Marr designed and built the county offices.
- 1868 Dedicated court accommodation became established in the complex.
- c.2005 The Scottish Court Service acquired the historic property.
- 2007 Refurbishment returned the upgraded court to full operation.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The complex has been altered repeatedly; current secure areas cannot be assumed to preserve their original nineteenth-century arrangement.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Lanark Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, LB37016 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service: Lanark — Current court identity, address, operation, accessibility and visitor requirements.
Location
OS grid reference NS 88087 43828 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Lanark relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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