Court House 1831
The London District Court House was built by John Ewart, of the town of York.  It has some features of a Gothic castle and it was based on Malahide Castle, the ancestral home of Colonel Thomas Talbot. Ewart constructed the building of brick and then covered it with stucco which gives it the smooth appearance.  The original structure was crafted between 1827-1831.  In 1849, the building became known as the Middlesex County Court House and by 1877, it was too small for its prestigious function.  Thomas Tracey, city engineer, and Charles Holmes, county engineer, were given the task of planning the expansion.  At this time, the Ridout Street facade was moved closer to the street and the look of the building changed.  Now called the Middlesex County Building, you can go for a tour of the site and still get a feeling of the old Court House and Gaol.  Of special interest are the painting, drawings and photographs on the walls and jail cells in the lower level.
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More Information:  London 200 An Illustrated History by Orlo Miller Victorian Architecture by Nancy Tausky and Lynne D. Stefano

The London and Middlesex Historical Society