About this location
The Former Police Station and Law Courts is a substantial historic civic complex offering an exceptional and highly versatile setting for film, television, video productions, commercial photography, corporate and private events, exhibitions, performances, training and immersive experiences.
The property contains an extensive collection of authentic institutional spaces, including former courtrooms, police cells, custody areas, interview rooms, offices, corridors, staircases, public waiting areas and formal entrances. Its imposing historic exterior and variety of internal spaces allow productions to create several different settings within a single location.
Period features include substantial solid-oak entrance doors, decorative plaster mouldings and coving, terrazzo and parquet flooring, historic joinery, high ceilings and large windows. These are complemented by functional police and court finishes and stripped-back areas with a naturally worn and atmospheric character.
The building is particularly suitable for police and crime dramas, courtroom productions, period filming, documentaries, music videos, fashion and editorial photography, mock trials, emergency-services training, immersive theatre, exhibitions and distinctive corporate events.
Located in Accrington, Lancashire, the property is conveniently positioned for production companies and event organisers operating across Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool and Yorkshire. On-site access, loading and parking can be accommodated subject to the scale of the booking. Floor plans, dimensions and additional photographs are available upon request, and site visits or production recces are welcomed.
Room breakdown
Entrance Lobby
The main entrance lobby provides an impressive introduction to the building and immediately communicates its former civic importance. It has the character of a substantial early-20th-century public building, with generous proportions, solid construction and original architectural detailing.
The lobby works particularly well as an arrival, reception or registration area for events and can also provide a strong establishing location for film and photography. Its relationship with the principal corridors and former court accommodation gives visitors an immediate sense of entering a historic police and judicial building.
Court 1
Court 1 is one of the building's principal historic spaces and should be regarded as a key feature of the property rather than simply another large room.
The courtroom retains the atmosphere and proportions associated with its former judicial use, providing a distinctive setting that is difficult to reproduce in a conventional commercial venue. Its scale and historic character make it particularly suitable for film and television productions, photography, performances, exhibitions, presentations, immersive events and specialist corporate functions.
Where surviving original courtroom joinery, panelling, doors, mouldings or other judicial features remain, these should be highlighted and preserved as part of the identity of the space.
Court 2
Court 2 provides a second substantial former courtroom with its own strong institutional character. Together, the two courts give the building considerable flexibility because productions or events can use one courtroom as the principal space while using the other for supporting activities, rehearsals, equipment, catering or additional scenes.
The presence of two genuine historic courtrooms within the same property is an important marketing advantage for film, television and location hire.
Historic Corridors
The building contains an extensive network of wide institutional corridors connecting the former police, court and administrative areas.
These are an important part of the building's character. Long sightlines, substantial doors, high ceilings and the repetitive arrangement of rooms create the unmistakable atmosphere of a traditional police station and law court.
For location filming, the corridors offer numerous possibilities including police, legal, governmental, institutional, period and crime-drama scenes. They also provide useful circulation and breakout areas when the building is used for events.
Where original flooring, terrazzo, parquet, timber doors, architraves, mouldings and other finishes survive, they add considerably to the authenticity of these spaces.
Former Police Cells
The original police cell areas are among the building's most unusual and commercially interesting features.
Their enclosed proportions, heavy construction, secure doors and surviving custodial characteristics provide an authentic reminder of the building's former use. Rather than over-restoring these areas, their robust and slightly austere character can become part of their appeal.
The cells have particular potential for film and television, music videos, photography, immersive theatre, historical interpretation and controlled experiential events.
The combination of cells, corridors, courtrooms and police accommodation means that several related scenes can potentially be produced within one location.
Historic and Architectural Features
The building's appeal comes from the collection of original civic, police and judicial features rather than any single room. Important characteristics include substantial masonry construction, high ceilings, large historic windows, original timber doors and joinery, decorative mouldings and cornices, traditional flooring including surviving terrazzo and parquet, institutional corridors, former courtrooms, police cells and the imposing principal entrances.
The solid oak entrance doors on Manchester Road and Spring Gardens are particularly important elements of the external and internal arrival experience.
The mixture of formal civic architecture and more austere operational police areas creates a progression through the building—from imposing entrances and courtrooms to administrative corridors and secure custodial spaces.
Amenities
Amenities include two historic courtrooms, original police cells, extensive corridors, entrance and reception areas, ancillary rooms, basement/storage areas, toilets, power and water, loading access and parking subject to arrangement. The building provides extensive supporting space for production crews, equipment, changing, makeup, catering and event operations.