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Summary

Description

William Robertson, 1838-9. Scottish Baronial. Finely stugged

ashlar, rubble to Tolbooth Street; tooled ashlar dressings.

3-storey courthouse, with imposing 3-stage tower and belfry

much resembling its predecessor. Entrance on W face of tower

with round-arched head in deeply splayed reveals. String

course rising over door, and window on N elevation. Round-

arched windows above with string course raised as square

hoodmould over; corbelled stepped parapet with bartizans;

smaller clock stage with similarly detailed parapet bartizans

with conical caps. Tall belfry stage with round-arched

openings, cable moulded cornice, tall bell-cast roof with

crowning cupola; weather vane with gilded cock.

Courthouse and jail to E and S; 3 storeys, 2 bays(W) to High

Street, 9 bays(E) to Tolbooth Street. Square-headed windows

to High Street with corbelled, squared bartizans to outer

bay. Courtroom to S with 2 round-head windows at 1st floor E

and W; 3 smaller round-headed windows and pend to ground

floor. Tolbooth Street; multi-pane glazing. 4 bays to jail,

facing E to Tolbooth Street.

INTERIOR: vaulted rooms in tower; courtroom with coffered

ceiling stained glass windows; some late 19th century

courtroom fittings survive.

Statement of Special Interest

Built on site of previous Tolbooth. Juts into High Street;

corner site with Tolbooth Street. Cells remain within.

Building now used as Moray District Record Office.

Stained glass window depicts St Laurence, patron saint of

Forres; gifted by Mr William Smith of Colithie, Huntly, a

native of Forres. Provost's Chair, 1893. Pair of Provost's

lamps in front of main entrance.

Unfortunate insertion of ventilation grills in some upper

window cills (circa 1980).

Former Item 77 (1983 Revised List)

References

Bibliography

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