Rothesay Town Hall and County Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rothesay Town Hall and County Buildings |
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Rothesay Town Hall and County Buildings
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| Location | Castle Street, Rothesay |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architect | James Dempster |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival style |
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Listed Building – Category B
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| Official name: 31 High Street (Flats 1-25, inclusive nos) (Former Castle Street, County Hall, including former prison cells) | |
| Designated | 2 April 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB40453 |
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Rothesay Town Hall and County Buildings is an old building in Rothesay, Scotland. It used to be a very important place where local government meetings happened. This building was once the main office for both the Rothesay Burgh Council and the Bute County Council. Today, it is recognized as a special historical site, known as a Category B listed building.
Contents
Building History: A Look Back
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This building stands where an older "tolbooth" once was. A tolbooth was like an old town hall, and it often had small jail cells for minor offenders. The new building was designed by an architect named James Dempster from Greenock.
It was built in a style called Gothic Revival, which means it looked like older Gothic buildings, often with pointed arches and towers. The building was made from large, smooth stones called ashlar. It cost about £4,000 to build and was finished in 1835.
Design and Special Features
The building's front has seven sections, with the middle part sticking out a little. This middle part is a tall, four-story tower. On the ground floor of the tower, there's an arched doorway. It has piers (like strong columns) and brackets (supports) holding up a canopy (a roof-like cover).
Higher up, the tower has different kinds of windows. There's a three-light bay window (a window that sticks out) and two lancet windows (tall, narrow windows with pointed tops). At the very top of the tower, there's a clock. The tower also has a castellated top, which means it looks like the top of a castle wall, and small corner turrets (mini-towers).
The clock was a gift to the town from John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute. The town hall bell was made in Glasgow. The parts of the building on either side of the tower have three-light sash windows (windows that slide up and down) and three-light mullioned windows (windows divided by vertical stone bars).
Inside, the main rooms were a courtroom, the town clerk's office, and the sheriff clerk's office. The town clerk managed the town's daily business. The courtroom was used for different types of legal hearings, including the sheriff's court and the burgh court. In 1865, a separate prison block was built behind the main building.
Changes Over Time
In 1889, a new law called the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 changed how local areas were managed. This law created a system of county councils across Scotland. Because of this, the Bute County Council was formed in 1890. The office for the county clerk was also set up in this building.
The building continued to be the main office for both Rothesay Burgh Council and Bute County Council for many years. However, in 1975, these councils were replaced by the Argyll and Bute District Council. The new council still used the building to provide local services. It also continued to host sheriff's court hearings.
Modern Use and Restoration
Later, the building underwent a big renovation project. This work, which cost £4.3 million, was finished in March 2011. The building was redesigned around a new courtyard at the back. The inside of the complex was changed into 25 new apartments.
During this work, the old town hall bell was found. In 2016, it was put on display in a small garden where High Street and Montague Street meet.
See also
