Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Early 19th century, former town hall with prominent bell tower located in the centre of Whithorn, on the west side of George Street. The building is an irregular T-shape in plan, with a two-storey, three-bay main block fronting the street and a square bell tower and two-storeyed wing to the rear. It is rubble with ashlar dressings, with the street elevation harled with painted ashlar margins, quoins, cornice and blocking course.

EAST (FRONT) ELEVATION: Tall round-arched doorway at centre with geometric patterned fanlight and 2-leaf doors, leading to internal stair to 1st floor courtroom. Nineteenth century shop fronts flanking; tripartite to left with door to centre; single window to right with door flanking toward centre. Window to each bay at 1st floor. The date '1814' is inscribed on the blocking-course.

Lower 2-storey property adjoined to left, gable line of former 2-storey property on right return, now adjoined by tall single storey building. 4-pane glazing pattern in sash and case windows to courtroom. Grey slates. Ashlar coped skews. Broad end stacks. Re-used date stone '1709' built into lower rear of building.

TOWER AND SPIRE: 4-stage tower, set at the centre of the rear wall of the main block with top stage slightly intaken above ashlar band. Round-arched openings to 3 faces of 3rd stage and circular clock faces to 4th (top) stage. Balustraded parapet. Ashlar conical spire with louvred ventilator panel.

Former bell, now in Whithorn Museum (information courtesy of a member of the public 2022). Dated 1708 and inscribed PETER VANDER GHEIN HEEFT MY GHEGOTEN INT IAER / 1708 ('Peter Vander Ghein cast me in the year 1708') .

Statement of Special Interest

The old town hall at Whithorn is of special interest as a visibly prominent early 19th century tolbooth that retains its landmark, staged bell tower, and which contributes to our understanding of Whithorn's social history.

While a tolbooth is known to have existed in Whithorn from at least the mid 17th century, documentary evidence suggests it was rebuilt first in 1708-9, and then was demolished and removed from a site in the middle of the street to be rebuilt in its present location in around 1809 (Canmore ID 63288). The predecessor building may be that depicted in the centre of the street on the Roy Military survey map of 1747-55. The present tower and spire may incorporate some re-used, earlier fabric, and a re-used stone inscribed '1709' is built into the rear of the building.

Tolbooths functioned as centres of local administration and justice in Scottish burghs from the medieval period to the 19th century. Surviving examples are often architecturally detailed and prominent buildings with steeples or bell towers, and those that retain their historic character and setting are likely to be listed. The earliest surviving examples date from the late 16th century and include Musselburgh tolbooth (listed category A, LB38308) and Canongate tolbooth (listed category A, LB27582). In Dumfries and Galloway, architecturally outstanding examples include the 18th century tolbooths at Sanquhar by William Adam (listed category A, LB40540) and at Lochmaben (listed category A, LB37541).

The town hall was replaced in 1885 by a new building at 53 St John Street (listed separately as LB42261).

Listed building record revised in 2022.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.