Public Office, Birmingham

The Public Office was built to give the Birmingham Street Commissioners a permanent headquarters. The complex also included the magistrates' courts and a small prison. The architect was William Hollins. The design was described as 'imposing' consisting of a rusticated base, above which was the principal story of six bays, divided by paired Ionic columns which supported an entablature and a balustraded parapet. The first stone of the building was laid on 18 September 1805, the cost being estimated at £10,000 (), The prison was opened on 29 September 1806 and the Public Office was opened on 19 October 1807. It was enlarged in 1830, and again in 1861. After this it was used as a lock up, and…