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Summary

Description

William Scott, 1880-81 (dated 1881). 3-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical, Renaissance, former guild hall. Ashlar with channelled quoins and scrolled, bracketed cills. Round arched tripartite windows at first floor with pilastered and keystoned surrounds. Shallow arched tripartite windows at second floor. Deep modillioned cornice. Parapet with carved wheel motif and triangular pediment at centre with round window. Central entrance with pilastered and corniced doorpiece incorporating shell niche with bust to keystone above door. Central round arched first floor window flanked by channelled pilasters supporting carved semi-circular pediment. Above is a shallow arched niche with figurative sculpture of Arbroath Guildry Incorporation crest and inscription 'Founded A.D. 1725 Rebuilt 1881'. Altered ground floor shops flanking entrance door.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Corniced ashlar stacks and clay cans.

The interior, seen in 2014, has been modified for use as court house, including witness accommodation and a jury room. There is a decorative coombed plaster ceiling (substantially repaired circa 2000) to the first floor former guildry meeting room (now courtroom). Timber panelled window architraves and panelled timber doors. Curved stone staircase to rear.

Statement of Special Interest

Designed by William Smith, an Arbroath architect and builder, in 1880-1, as a guild hall, No. 90-94 High Street, Arbroath is a rare and good surviving example of a purpose built guild hall. Purpose built guild halls are a rare building type as many guilds would have had meeting rooms in other buildings, such as that at Montrose which had a hall in the town house. No. 90-94 High Street has significant streetscape presence in Arbroath town centre because of its symmetrical design and wealth of good stonework detailing to the principal elevation. This detailing includes a decorative doorpiece, pilastered and keystoned windows and a sculpture panel of the Arbroath Guildry Incorporation's crest, which indicates the building's original function.

The Arbroath Guildry was incorporated in 1725 as a result of a agreement made by the Town Council with the town's merchants regarding the building of a new harbour to improve trade. At that time, the Guildry comprised the town's principal merchants as well as other prominent citizens who became members so their subscriptions could help with the harbour costs. Circa 1780 a guild hall (or guildry building), with a meeting room and a variety of offices, was constructed on the High Street site. This building was also used by burgh officials until a new town house (see separate listing) was completed in 1808. In 1880-1 the Guildry building was rebuilt by William Scott following a fire.

William Scott (circa 1831-1884) was initially a builder and later architect in Arbroath. He was Inspector of Harbour Works and architect to the School Board and in the capacity he was responsible for a number of schools in Arbroath.

In 2000 the Scottish Court Service purchased the guildry building and connected it internally to the adjacent 1808 former town house. As part of this renovation work the interior of the guildry building was substantially refurbished to provide an additional courtroom, and increase witness, sheriff, jury and office accommodation. The ceiling in courtroom 2 has been substantially repaired, having been covered by a suspended ceiling and when uncovered it was found to be badly damaged. Etched glass panels were relocated to the former town house at this time. The building reopened in June 2001.

Re-categorised from a 'B for Group' listing to a category C(S) listing in 2006 as part of the phasing out of the 'B for Group' category. Category C(S) subsequently revised to category C on 3 September 2012. Statutory address and listed building record revised as part of the Scottish Courts Listing Review 2014-15. Previously listed as 'Nos. 90, 92 and 94, High Street, Guildry Buildings'.

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