Banff Town House – Wikipedia

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Municipal Building in Banff, Scotland

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]

History[edit]

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 Plainstanes, the elevated stone pavement in front of the town house, in June 1900.[9][10]

The town house continued in the role of burgh headquarters for much of the 20th century[11] and continued to be the meeting place of the enlarged Banff and Buchan District Council after it was formed in 1975.[12][13] It ceased to be the local seat of government after the new unitary authority, Aberdeenshire Council, was formed in Aberdeen in 1996.[14] However, it continued to serve as the local area office of the new council.[15] 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.[16][17][18]

Gallery[edit]

  • The steeple and Carmelite House

    The steeple and Carmelite House

  • The town's mercat cross. The edge of the town house is on the right

    The town’s mercat cross. The edge of the town house is on the right

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. “Low Street, Tolbooth Steeple (LB22062)”. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. “34 Low Street, Townhouse (LB22063)”. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ “No. 18872”. The Edinburgh Gazette. 24 April 1970. p. 365.
  12. ^ “Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973”. Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ “No. 23881”. The Edinburgh Gazette. 3 November 1995. p. 2781.
  14. ^ “Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994”. Legislation.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  15. ^ “Reach a council office”. Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. ^ “Banff and Macduff Regeneration Town Centre Report 2015/16” (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. p. 12. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  17. ^ “Banff Town House to reopen after £1.75million refurbishment”. Press and Journal. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  18. ^ “Council offices change in £1.75 million project”. Grampian Online. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2021.