Look straight ahead for a grand, castle-like building with tall octagonal towers, stone-like brick walls, and a row of battlements crowning the top-if you suddenly feel you should be wearing a suit of armor, you’ve found the right place!
Now, picture London, Ontario in the late 1820s: muddy roads, the sound of hammers on local stone, and an ambitious dream to bring a slice of English Gothic style right here to Canada. The Middlesex County Court House sprang up between 1827 and 1829, thanks to Toronto architect John Ewart. Instead of just copying the look of an ordinary courthouse, Ewart sent it straight into fairytale territory, with magnificent outdoor towers, pointed lancet windows, and chunky crenellations that seem ready for a watchman to spot approaching dragons-or maybe just nosy lawyers. Inside, it held not only the court but also the jail and police administration, so you can imagine a mix of stern judges, frustrated lawyers, and jailers, all going about their business with a building that looked more like a fortress than an office. Interestingly, this place out-Gothic’d England itself, pre-dating even the famous Houses of Parliament! Over time, its grand exterior was guarded by historic protections, making the grounds almost as untouchable as its sturdy stone. Not bad for a courthouse that looks like it’s ready to host a medieval banquet or two, eh?
