Leyland Police Station was originally located on Towngate in Leyland, Lancashire

Leyland, Lancashire

Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...

. In 1882 a new police station was built on Golden Hill.

The police station was built around 100 yards from the newly constructed Leyland railway station

Leyland railway station

Leyland railway station serves the town of Leyland in Lancashire, England. It was formerly "Golden Hill", the name of the street and area in which the station is based, but was re-named Leyland soon after opening...

, on the West Coast Mainline, for the convenience of the officials coming to the courts that were held in the court room on the first floor of this building. A modern police station was latterly rebuilt n Towngate as the importance of the railway decreased,.

Architecture

This building represents a significant period in the history of Leyland. The civic heart of the town moved to outskirts of the town with the arrival of the railway and this is reflected in the architecture of the buildings in this area.

The architecture of the building resembles that of those built in the same era in Bamber Bridge

Bamber Bridge

Bamber Bridge is a village to the south of Preston, Lancashire, England. The name derives from the Old English 'bēam' and 'brycg', which probably means "tree-trunk bridge". It is mentioned in an undated medieval document. The village is often referred to as "Brig" by residents...

, Croston

Croston

-External links:**** chorley.gov.uk....

 and Chorley

Chorley

Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...

. Chorley police station was knocked down in order to make way for the modern building which now stands in its place and this marked a significant shift in the architecture of municipal buildings in the UK.

Local history and legend

The street down the side of the station was named Hewitt after one of the first inspectors.

Local legend persists that a police officer committed suicide within the police station and due to speculation and reported sightings, the stairway to the room where he committed suicide was removed and the entrance completely blocked off.

Current use

The police station has been transferred to a new building in Lancaster Gate but graffiti in the cells (which still exist today) record that there was still a working police station here in 1994.

The building has many remarkable features including three large crystal chandeliers. It is currently owned and occupied by Campbells Automotive Ltd

Campbells Automotive

Campbell Automotive Ltd is part of the UK's Campbells Commercial Vehicle Marketing Group, a commercial vehicle market research organisation.Campbells is headed by the leading industry expert and Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine editor, Mr Tim Campbell.Campbells also publish Professional...

, having previously been owned by Chemtec Systems. Hughes Treacher Chartered Architects also sub-occupies the premises.

On the 2nd of March 2010, planning permission

Planning permission

Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...

 was granted by South Ribble Borough Council to convert part of the bottom floor into a Victorian-styled Cafe.