Built in 1883 at the corner of James Avenue and King Street, on a design by the architects Barber and Barber, this two-storey brick building contained 18 jail cells adjacent to a large courtroom on the main floor, with offices for court officials on the second floor, and a full attic used as a dormitory for police officers. Renovations in 1893 were overseen by Charles Burgess. In 1908, when a new police station opened on Rupert Street, this building was renovated into municipal offices on a design by architect John Danley Atchison.
Designated as a municipal historic site in December 1983, it was de-designated in August 1986. The building was disassembled and its facades on the south and west sides were matched in a replica that stands on the site today.
Winnipeg Police Court (1886)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Winnipeg Police Department 11, N11699.
Police Court (circa 1903)
Source: An Illustrated Souvenir of Winnipeg by W. A. Martel & Sons.
Replica facades of the former Winnipeg Police Court building (June 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Replica facades of the former Winnipeg Police Court building (January 2020)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90059, W97.13887
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: De-Designated Buildings in Winnipeg
Some Old Winnipeg Buildings by Randy Rostecki
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 29, 1972-1973 Season
“Winnipeg’s big building development during 1908,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 December 1908, page 31.
“Building deserves better fate,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 July 1986, page 10.
“Council approves replica of building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 1986, page 16.
We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 27 May 2024
Historic Sites of Manitoba
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