Municipal Buildings, Dumfries

Last updated

Municipal Buildings, Dumfries
Municipal Buildings, Dumfries.jpg
Municipal Buildings, Dumfries
LocationBuccleuch Street, Dumfries
Coordinates 55°04′12″N3°36′51″W / 55.0701°N 3.6141°W / 55.0701; -3.6141
Built1932
ArchitectJames Carruthers
Architectural style(s) Edwardian Baroque style
Listed Building – Category C(S)
Official nameBuccleuch Street, Nithsdale District Council Offices
Designated6 March 1981
Reference no.LB26099
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Dumfries and Galloway

The Municipal Buildings are based on the north side of Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of Dumfries Burgh Council, is a Category C listed building. [1]

Contents

History

The first municipal building in the town was a tolbooth in the High Street which dated back to the 15th century. [2] It was demolished and replaced by a townhouse, known as the Midsteeple, which was completed in 1707. [2]

After deciding that the Midsteeple was inadequate for their needs, civic leaders acquired the old courthouse on the north side of Buccleuch Street in 1866. [3] [lower-alpha 1] The old courthouse was then converted for municipal use as a town hall, to a design by John Johnstone, [6] but it was badly damaged in a fire on 29 November 1908. [4] Losses in the fire included fine portraits of King William and Queen Mary painted by Godfrey Kneller which had been presented to the town by the former local member of parliament, John Johnstone. [4] However, a silver gun which had been presented by King James VI of Scotland to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Dumfries in 1598 survived the fire. [4] [7]

In the 1920s civic leaders decided to demolish the old building in Buccleuch Street and to replace it with a new structure on the same site. [8] The new building was designed by James Carruthers of Glasgow in the Edwardian Baroque style, built in red ashlar stone extracted from a quarry at Locharbriggs and was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester on 20 September 1932. [9] [8] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the Buccleuch Street; the central bay, which slightly projected forward, featured a doorway flanked by square Doric order columns supporting a curved canopy. [1] The other bays on the ground floor as well as the bays on the first floor featured sash windows flanked by full-height pilasters supporting an entablature and a cornice. [1] There were smaller sash windows on the second floor. [1]

Internally, the principal room was the council chamber which was decorated to a design by Wylie and Lochhead with panelling which had originally been intended for the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary whose construction and internal fit-out had been delayed because of the Great Depression. [8] A stained glass window was recovered from the previous building on the site and installed in a room on the ground floor at the rear of the building. [8] The building continued to serve as the headquarters of Dumfries Burgh Council for much of the 20th century and became the meeting place of the enlarged Nithsdale District Council after it was formed in 1975. [10] However, it ceased to be the local seat of government when Dumfries and Galloway Council became the new unitary authority for the area, with its offices at County Buildings in English Street, in 1996. [11] The municipal buildings instead became the local provost's office [8] and also the local registration office. [12]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The building on the north side of Buccleuch Street had originally been commissioned as a chapel by the theologian, Robert Haldane, in 1799. [3] It was remodelled to a design by a Mr Gillespie in the neoclassical style for use as a courthouse in 1814, [4] [5] but fell vacant after the courts moved to a purpose-built courthouse on the south side of Buccleuch Street in 1866. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nithsdale</span> Scottish local government district (1975–1996), part of Dumfries and Galloway region

Nithsdale, also known as Strathnith, Stranith or Stranit, is the strath or dale of the River Nith in southern Scotland. Nithsdale was one of the medieval provinces of Scotland. The provinces gradually lost their administrative importance to the shires created from the twelfth century, with Nithsdale forming part of Dumfriesshire. A Nithsdale district covering a similar area to the medieval province was created in 1975, based in the area's main town of Dumfries. The district was abolished in 1996, since when the area has been directly administered by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

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

Stirling Tolbooth is a municipal building in Broad Street, Stirling, Scotland. The structure, which was the original meeting place of Stirling Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building.

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

Hawick Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Hawick, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Hawick Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building.

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

The Municipal Buildings are based on the north side of Princes Street East in Helensburgh, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Helensburgh Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal Buildings, Dalkeith</span> Municipal Building in Dalkeith, Scotland

The Municipal Buildings are based in Buccleuch Street in Dalkeith, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Dalkeith Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

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

Kirkcudbright Town Hall, currently operating as Kirkcudbright Galleries, is a municipal building in St Mary's Street, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Kirkcudbright Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

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

The Old Town Hall is a municipal structure in George Street, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a local history museum, is a Category A listed building.

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

The Midsteeple is a municipal building in the High Street in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a ticket office and a meeting place, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Galloway Town Hall</span> Historic municipal building in Scotland

The New Galloway Town Hall is a municipal building in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, situated on the town's high street. A tolbooth has existed on the site of the current building since at least 1711; in 1875, it was rebuilt and enlarged. In 1971 it was designated a Category B listed building.

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

Annan Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which accommodates the local library and is also used as a venue for the provision of local services, 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">Lockerbie Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Lockerbie, Scotland

Lockerbie Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a venue for the provision of local services, is a Category A listed building.

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

Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall is a former municipal building in the High Street in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is now in private residential ownership, provides access to a fine ornamental garden behind the town hall.

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

Langholm Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

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

Sanquhar Tolbooth is a municipal building in the High Street in Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which accommodates a local history museum, is a Category A listed building.

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

Dalbeattie Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

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

Moffat Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart</span> Municipal building in Newton Stewart, Scotland

The McMillan Hall is a municipal building in Dashwood Square in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranraer Sheriff Court</span> Judicial building in Stranraer, Scotland

Stranraer Sheriff Court is a judicial building in Lewis Street, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The building, which continues to be used as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumfries Sheriff Court</span> Municipal building in Dumfries, Scotland

Dumfries Sheriff Court is a judicial building on Buccleuch Street in Dumfries in Scotland. The building, which still operates as the local courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Historic Environment Scotland. "Buccleuch Street, Nithsdale District Council Offices (Category C Listed Building) (LB26099)" . Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Historic Environment Scotland. "Dumfries High Street Midsteeple (65537)". Canmore . Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Groome, Francis H. (1885). "Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical". Edinburgh: Thomas C. Jack.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Transactions and Journal of Proceedings 1908-1909" (PDF). Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. 1910. p. 89.
  5. ↑ "Municipal Chambers in Buccleuch Street". Dumfries and Galloway Council. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "John Johnstone (1818-1884)". Victorian Web. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Silver gun, remodelled by David Gray". Future Museum of South West Scotland. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Municipal Buildings, Dumfries". Art UK. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "DVD brings old Dumfries to life". Daily Record. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994". Legislation.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Registration Office Contact Details" (PDF). Scottish Government. Retrieved 19 April 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.