Built as the General Offices of the Port Talbot Steel Company (nprn 409888) in early C20. Converted to Magistrates Court in 1988.
Neo-Georgian style. Main range with end wings which are advanced to the front. Constructed of red brick in stretcher bond, suggesting double skin construction. Pale stone dressings including plinth and rusticated quoin strips to wings. Hipped tiled roofs with swept eaves, with individual roofs to the main range and each wing. The front of the main range is 7-window while the wings are 3-window. Horned multi-pane sash windows throughout with stone sills and flat gauged brick heads with keystones. Central bay with doorway and stairlight above, flanked by narrow 4-over-4-pane sash windows, under a raised segmental pediment. Doorcase with tapering pilasters, moulded capitals and wide flat cornice, containing double panelled doors with overlight. This supports a pronounced stone tablet which rises to the sill of the stairlight above and reads 'Port Talbot / Magistrates Court.' The round-headed stairlight has a moulded stone surround with ears and large inverted volutes against the jambs. A large fluted and scrolled keystone supports a keyed occulus in the pediment which has moulded stone drops to the sides. The windows flanking the central bay are 8-over-8-pane sashes, except for the outer ground floor windows which are paired 4-pane sashes. The front elevations of the wings are symmetrical with 8-over-8-pane sashes flanked by 6-over-6-pane sashes, all the windows openings with aprons. Added range to L, with large catslide section and no openings.
The N side of the N wing is also 3-window with 8-over-8-pane sashes, but those to the lower storey are not aligned with those above. The L and central lower windows have aprons beneath. The rear is rendered and altered. Flat roofed projection behind main range with lean-to to R. Mainly UPVC windows, irregularly spaced. The added bay to the S end is similar, with flat-roofed projection to rear, probably a staircase bay, and irregular windows.
(Source: Cadw Listings database) S Garfi 8/9/06