Banff Town House

Last updated

Banff Town House
Town House (geograph 2282586).jpg
The building in 2011
Location34 Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Coordinates 57°39′52″N2°31′17″W / 57.6645°N 2.5215°W / 57.6645; -2.5215
Built1767(256 years ago) (1767) (steeple)
1797(226 years ago) (1797) (town house)
Architect John Adam (steeple)
James Reid (town house)
Architectural style(s) Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Category A
Official nameLow Street, Tolbooth Steeple
Designated22 February 1972
Reference no.LB22062
Listed Building – Category A
Official name34 Low Street, Townhouse
Designated22 February 1972
Reference no.LB22063
Aberdeenshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Aberdeenshire

Banff Town House is a municipal building in Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The building, which is used as a customer service point and job centre, forms part of a complex consisting of a steeple, completed in 1767, which is a Category A listed building, [1] and a town house, completed in 1797, which is also a Category A listed building. [2]

Contents

History

The first municipal building in the town was a tolbooth which was built of the west side of Low Street, on the corner with Strait Path, in the early 16th century. [3] After the tolbooth became dilapidated the burgh leaders decided to construct a new building, the steeple, on the east side of Low Street. [3] There were strong objections from Rear-Admiral William Gordon, who was concerned that the steeple might collapse on his property, Carmelite House, located to the south. [4]

The steeple was designed by John Adam in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone by a master mason, John Marr, and was completed in 1767. [5] [6] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with just one bay facing onto Low Street; the first stage involved a doorway with a cornice and a blind oculus above, the second stage incorporated a blind Diocletian window, the third stage involved a clock with a pediment, the fourth stage incorporated a round headed louvered opening and the fifth stage took the form of a hexagonal spire. [1] The bell in the steeple was designed and cast by Lester and Pack of London. [3]

In the late 18th century, the burgh leaders decided to augment the structure with a town house on a site to the north of the steeple. The town house was financed by public subscription and amounts subscribed included a donation of 100 guineas from the local member of parliament, Sir William Grant. [3] The town house was designed by James Reid in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £1,700 and was completed in 1797. [2] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Low Street; the central bay featured a doorway with a four-light rectangular window above; the building was fenestrated with sash windows in the other bays on the ground floor and in the bays on the first and second floors. Internally, the principal rooms were a reception room on the first floor and a ballroom on the second floor. [3] There was also an office for the sheriffs' clerk and some prison cells. [2]

The Banff Museum was established in the town house in 1828 but then relocated to Banff Academy in 1838. [7] Following significant population growth, largely associated with the fishing industry, Banff became a police burgh with the town house as its headquarters in 1840. [8] The town's mercat cross was moved several times before finding a permanent home on the Plainstones, the elevated stone pavement in front of the town house, in June 1900. [9] [10] A Russian cannon, captured at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War and presented to the town after the war, was relocated to the Plainstones in 1901. [11]

The town house continued in the role of burgh headquarters for much of the 20th century [12] and continued to be the meeting place of the enlarged Banff and Buchan District Council after it was formed in 1975. [13] [14] It ceased to be the local seat of government after the new unitary authority, Aberdeenshire Council, was formed in Aberdeen in 1996. [15] However, it continued to serve as the local area office of the new council. [16] An extensive programme of refurbishment works, which created improved facilities for the local customer service point and job centre, was completed by Morrison Construction at a cost of £1.75 million in July 2015. [17] [18] [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff, Aberdeenshire</span> Town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron. It is a former royal burgh, and is the county town of the historic county of Banffshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr Town Hall</span> Municipal Building in Ayr, Scotland

Ayr Town Hall is a municipal building in New Bridge Street, Ayr, Scotland. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Ayr Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musselburgh Tolbooth</span> Municipal building in Musselburgh, Scotland

Musselburgh Tolbooth is a municipal building in the High Street in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. The tolbooth, which was the headquarters of Musselburgh Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building. At right angles and attached to it is the Musselburgh Town House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterhead Town House</span> Municipal building in Peterhead, Scotland

Peterhead Town House is a municipal structure in Broad Street, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Peterhead Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strichen Town House</span> Municipal building in Strichen, Scotland

Strichen Town House is a municipal structure in High Street, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The building, which was the meeting place of Strichen Parish Council, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macduff Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Macduff, Scotland

Macduff Town Hall is a municipal building in Shore Street, Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which was the meeting place of Macduff Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestwick Burgh Hall</span> Municipal building in Prestwick, Scotland

Prestwick Burgh Hall, also known as Prestwick Freeman's Hall and Prestwick Freemen's Hall, is a municipal building in Kirk Street, Prestwick, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Prestwick Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraserburgh Town House</span> Municipal building in Fraserburgh, Scotland

Fraserburgh Town House is a municipal building in Saltoun Square, Fraserburgh, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Fraserburgh Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dingwall Town Hall</span> Municipal Building in Dingwall, Scotland

Dingwall Town Hall is a municipal structure in the High Street, Dingwall, Highland, Scotland. The structure, which is now used as a museum, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Queensferry Tolbooth</span> Municipal building in South Queensferry, Scotland

The South Queensferry Tollbooth is a municipal structure in the High Street, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of the Royal Burgh of Queensferry, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cupar Burgh Chambers</span> Municipal Building in Cupar, Scotland

Cupar Burgh Chambers is a municipal structure in St Catherine Street in Cupar, Fife, Scotland. The building, which was the meeting place of Cupar Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverbervie Town House</span> Municipal building in Inverbervie, Scotland

Inverbervie Town House is a municipal structure in Church Street in Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which is primarily used as a public library, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lochmaben Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Lochmaben, Scotland

Lochmaben Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Lochmaben, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which accommodates a library and a local customer services point, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falkland Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Falkland, Scotland

Falkland Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Falkland, Fife, Scotland. The structure, which has been converted for use as offices and as shops, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittenweem Parish Church and Tolbooth Steeple</span> Municipal building in Pittenweem, Scotland

Pittenweem Parish Church and Tolbooth Steeple is an ecclesiastical and municipal complex in the High Street, Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland. The structure, which is used as the local parish church, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tain Tolbooth</span> Municipal building in Tain, Scotland

Tain Tolbooth is a municipal building in the High Street, Tain, Highland, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a courthouse, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newburgh Town House</span> Municipal building in Newburgh, Scotland

Newburgh Town House is a municipal building in the High Street in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a series of artists' studios, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cellardyke Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Cellardyke, Scotland

Cellardyke Town Hall is a municipal structure in Tolbooth Wynd, Cellardyke, Fife, Scotland. The building accommodates a local history museum and is also used as a local events venue. The mercat cross, which has been affixed to the front of the building, is a Category B listed structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crieff Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Kirkwall, Scotland

Crieff Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Crieff, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The structure, which is currently used as a tourist information centre and museum, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff Sheriff Court</span> Courthouse in Banff, Scotland

Banff Sheriff Court is a judicial structure in Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of Banffshire County Council and was also used as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 Historic Environment Scotland. "Low Street, Tolbooth Steeple (LB22062)" . Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Historic Environment Scotland. "34 Low Street, Townhouse (LB22063)" . Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Historic Environment Scotland. "Banff, 34 Low Street, Town House (241402)". Canmore . Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. ↑ McKean, Charles (1990). Banff & Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publications Ltd. p. 13. ISBN   185158-231-2.
  5. ↑ "Tolbooth Steeple". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Walker, David W.; Woodworth, Matthew (2014). The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray. Yale University Press. p. 51. ISBN   978-0300204285.
  7. ↑ "Banff and Macduff: Developing Excellence in Our North Coast Communities 2016/17 Report" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. p. 8. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Banff Burgh". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  9. ↑ McKean 1990, p. 10
  10. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Banff, Low Street, Market Cross (18458)". Canmore . Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "The Missing Cannon". Banff Macduff Heritage Trail. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "No. 18872". The Edinburgh Gazette . 24 April 1970. p. 365.
  13. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "No. 23881". The Edinburgh Gazette . 3 November 1995. p. 2781.
  15. ↑ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994". Legislation.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Reach a council office". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Banff and Macduff Regeneration Town Centre Report 2015/16" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. p. 12. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Banff Town House to reopen after £1.75million refurbishment". Press and Journal. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Council offices change in £1.75 million project". Grampian Online. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.