Once it was a beautiful building on the beach front

The pathetic old court house cries out for restoration

December 19, 2014 11:06 pm | Updated 11:08 pm IST

The old court building on the Beach promenade, which functioned as a court till 2008.

The old court building on the Beach promenade, which functioned as a court till 2008.

> The aftershocks of the collapse of the Mairie (Town Hall) on the Beach promenade have been making the authorities wake up to the need for protecting and preserving other heritage monuments in the city which are under potential threat. Each of these buildings has become vulnerable to decay because of age and lack of maintenance.

A heritage structure that is languishing in neglect is the old court building on the Promenade.

Built in 1870, the Grade II A heritage structure was used as a court of appeal and a law school. It was one of the most beautiful heritage buildings on the beachfront, but has now changed beyond recognition.

The original building featured an arcaded ground floor and first floor.

It was built on the site of Hotel De La Marine in 1766.

Later it was the Hôtel du commandant du génie in 1788, and the Cour d’appel from 1884 to 1955. It functioned as a court till 2008.

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