Justiciary Building, Category B listed courthouse in Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Justiciary Building is a courthouse in Edinburgh's Lawnmarket featuring a symmetrical facade with seven bays, a central entrance framed by pilasters, and a pediment at the top. Inside are multiple courtrooms where Scotland's most significant criminal cases are heard.
Built in 1937 by architects Albert Pitcher and John Wilson Paterson, this building replaced earlier court facilities with roots going back to 1400. Major renovations in 1994 restored it to serve as the home of Scotland's highest criminal court, the High Court of Justiciary.
An art installation by Alice Kettle occupies space within the building, visible to visitors moving through its interior. Nearby stands a statue of philosopher David Hume, created by Alexander Stoddart, which adds to the cultural landmarks surrounding the courthouse.
The entrance hall is lined with marble, helping visitors get oriented as they enter the building. The size and formal layout can feel overwhelming at first, so taking time to familiarize yourself with how the spaces connect is worthwhile.
The building carries the weight of judicial history, having evolved on this site for centuries as a center for major legal decisions. Visitors can sense the continuity of this legal tradition in the rooms themselves, where generations of lawyers and judges have conducted their work.
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