Description and History of Site:-
Opened in March 1857 as the administrative headquarters of the Marquis of Londonderry's collieries, railways, docks and industrial ventures.

Later a police station.

Police Station, former Londonderry Offices. c.1860. Snecked sandstone with ashlar quoins and Welsh slate roofs. Long narrow facade with irregular wings to rear. Modified classical style with C17 French motifs. Symmetrical street facade: 2 storeys, 5-bay centre and slightly projecting 4-bay wings. Ground floor: chamfered stone plinth; central rusticated porte-cochere; 4-pane sashes with horizontal glazing bars and raised sills; 3 blocked windows in left wing. String course between storeys. 1st floor windows have similar 4-pane sashes with raised sills on square brackets and eared architraves. Central projecting 2-stage clock tower above porte-cochere has raised quoins; tall corniced lower stage has round-headed window with Gibbs surround and keyed oculus above; short, narrow upper stage has corner consoles, 4 circular clock faces and, above a cornice, a slightly-pointed, lead-sheathed dome with 4 vertical, louvred oval openings. Continuous moulded eaves cornice. Flanking wings have low-pitched hipped roofs with flat tops and 3 round-arched dormers with double-keyed architraves. Irregular rear of building has round-arched windows, some with Gibbs surrounds, and many corniced ashlar stacks. Interior of building largely remodelled.

Statue to Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry K.G., G.C.V.O. (1852-1915). 1915 by John Tweed. Sandstone plinth and pedestal and standing bronze figure. Square plinth on moulded stone base supports pedestal with sloping sides and moulded cornice. Pedestal bears inscription: This statue is placed here by his son and his daughter, amongst those whom he loved so well, and whose welfare and happiness were to him the principle objects of his life. Rear of pedestal has relief carving of the Londonderry Arms and bears the Garter motto and the family motto: METUENDA COROLLA DRACONIS. Slightly over life-size figure with sword and scroll wears the cloak of the Order of the Garter.

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Key Words :- offices

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public road or footpath

Address :- North Terrace, Seaham, Durham, SR7 7EU
Grid Ref :- NZ 43051 49539
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.838828 , Long -1.331222
Local Authority :- Durham County Council
Pre 1974 County :- County Durham
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1232270, 1277150,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1857 -
Record Date :- 3 September 2022

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter