[4][5][6] The new building was designed by the borough architect, Patrick Burridge, in the Modernist style, built in concrete and glass and was completed in 1966.

[9] The borough council commissioned a bronze sculpture entitled "Leda and the Swan" which was designed by Lucette Cartwright.

[10] It was initially placed outside the courthouse but when councillors decided to relocate the sculpture to the civic square there was a backlash from protestors who objected to the sexual nature of the artist's work which depicted the thunder god, Zeus, in the form of a swan, raping a woman.

[11] The sculpture was initially moved to the courtyard of the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea and but it was later relocated to the mayor's residence where it was placed safely out of view.

[12] Notable court cases have included the trial and conviction of Rick Kerry, in June 2013, for robbery.