WAR DAMAGE REPAIRED AND INNOVATIONS PLACED.

RESTORATION AT OLD BAILEY , A STAGE COMPLETED

THE TIMES.

3^rd Sept , 1952.

 

When the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, is reopened for public use on September 9 (an official reopening will take place on October 14) there will remain another three years of work before the building is fully restored and renovated. The Old Bailey was damaged at least three times during the last war. Work continued there in spite of inconvenience, and in July, 1950, the Common Council of the City of London approved a scheme of repair at a cost of nearly £500,000, upon which work began the following August. . Restoration has now progressed far enough to allow of the opening of three of the permanent courts, including a new one. At the same time many improvements are being introduced in the building as a whole, particularly in heating and ventilation. Above ground, the north-west corner has been entirely replaced. With its clean white stone facings a sharp contrast between old and new is seen from the street, but inside the building renovation is so extensive that there will be no discernible demarcation. The marble facings that were wrenched and cracked in the grand hall and corridors are being replaced; some of the old material has been used again, but much has had to be imported from Italy, Sicily, and Belgium. Masonry is being cleaned up everywhere; carvings, panels, and special features in wood are being renewed or re- polished: and in the three domes of the Grand Hall the murals have been either freshened up or completely repainted under the direction of Mr. Gerald Moira, who was one of the two artists who worked on the original panels nearly 50 years ago. Innovations of special interest include a microphone system that will enable witnesses in waiting rooms to be called from the lobbies of the courts; and acoustic filtering to reduce sound reflection. In addition to the new court on the ground floor, which will be known as number five and will thus provide the Old Bailey for the first time with five courts when all are completed, there are other new rooms for juvenile witnesses, for waiting and resting, for refreshment  and a children's playroom. The work is being carried out by the Corporation of London under the direction of the City Surveyor .