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Report - - West Ham Courthouse, London - May 2015 | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - West Ham Courthouse, London - May 2015

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The_Raw

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
West Ham court house, also know as West ham Magistrates' or West ham Police and Coroner's court was a Yellow brick Victorian era Italianate Court house built in 1884, which officially opened in 1885. Designed by the architect Lewis Angell, who at the time was a Borough Engineer, it was later extended by a different architect, John Morley in 1901 which included a new frontage.

It received Grade 2 listed status on 25th October 1984. Unfortunately a fire in December 2013 gutted court room 2 and destroyed the upper floors. In 2014 minor conservation work took place such as scaffolding holding up court room 1 and a temporary roof above court room 2 to prevent further decay.

I can't find anything online about official closure but the level of decay would suggest it was a very long time ago. The only dated paperwork I found was from 1983. Sorry I can't be any more specific, I would love to know actually.

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All kudos goes to Slayaaaa and friends for this one, a great find with amazing decay, tons of original features, and no apparent vandalism whatsoever. Pretty amazing that it has stood untouched like this in East London for so long without anybody popping their head in. Really enjoyed it in here, the level of decay is absolutely epic despite the court rooms being in a bit of a sorry state. I visited with slayaaaa one afternoon as he mentioned some unfinished business and boy oh boy what a funny find that turned out to be! He also lent me his fisheye for a few shots which worked a treat in there, top man. Anyway onto my pictures, there were some lovely tings to photograph in here.

1. Entrance hall
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.

2. Court No.1
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3. The Dock
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4. Entrance from the cells into the court
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5. Court No. 2
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6.
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7.
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8. Discarded court benches
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9. Loved this rotting staircase but you couldn't go any further than the top of it due to collapsed floors
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10. Various rooms in a state of disrepair
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11.
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12. This entire floor has collapsed from above
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13.
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14. An old office with paperwork dating back to the 80s
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15. I may or may not have put this hat stand here for this shot
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16. A court summons from 1983
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17. Notice to defendants
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18. Waiting area
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19. Entrance into the holding cells
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20. & 21. Some really nice natural light in here
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22. & 23.
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24.
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25. ....and last but not least, the morgue, complete with a collection of bizarre graveyard statues, hats off to Slayaaaa for spotting this!
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26.
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27. Just a body fridge in here, no slab but still a pretty cool and unexpected find.... If anyone is able to explain why there would be a morgue at a court house please feel free to do so as I'm still a bit confused....
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That's all folks, cheers for perusing :)
 
Last edited:

Yorrick

A fellow of infinite jest
28DL Full Member
Great looking place. I love the ironwork on the witness box.

official closure .......1983. Sorry I can't be any more specific, I would love to know actually.

The new Magistrates Court opened in 1994 I think, so you’re about right with the date.

explain why there would be a morgue at a court house

The Coroner carries out a thorough but limited investigation into deaths where the cause is unnatural, unknown, violent or occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody. The enquiry is limited to determining who has died, how that person came by the medical cause of death and when and where that person died.

If who has died or how they died is in dispute, the body would need to be there for ID and examination.
 

The_Raw

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Great looking place. I love the ironwork on the witness box.



The new Magistrates Court opened in 1994 I think, so you’re about right with the date.



The Coroner carries out a thorough but limited investigation into deaths where the cause is unnatural, unknown, violent or occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody. The enquiry is limited to determining who has died, how that person came by the medical cause of death and when and where that person died.

If who has died or how they died is in dispute, the body would need to be there for ID and examination.

Perhaps closed around 94 then at a guess, definitely been rotting away for some time in there.

As for the morgue, we did wonder if that might be the case but how many people die in lawful custody?! Presumably quite a few....
 

Yorrick

A fellow of infinite jest
28DL Full Member
I should have said ALL deaths where the cause is unnatural, not just in custody
 

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