Field Visit

Date 14 March 2017

Event ID 1022588

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1022588

Won at competition by J Gaff Gillespie of Salmon, Son & Gillespie in 1908, construction was delayed until 1914 and was limited to the central and SW block, the street layout having been altered in 1894 to accommodate the block (1). In the post-war period an additional bay to the west was added.

The main (eastern) entrance provides access to the principle civic rooms – council chamber, reception and committee rooms - through marble inlaid entrance halls and stair. Within the hall pilasters are topped with capitals depicting the Scottish Infantry Regiments and the burgh’s seal. The staircase is lit by a large stained glass window depicting Alexander II presenting the town’s charter in 1226, designed by the architect and executed by William Meikle & Sons (2). Wall sconces at 1st floor level each name a sovereign of Scotland who has resided at the Palace of Stirling Castle. The reception room and committee room both contain fireplaces with integrated paintings by James Fergusson: Coronation of James VI and Mary, Queen of Scots arriving in Stirling, respectively.

Secondary (western) entrance leads to the main offices for the various functions of the council. The balustrade features scrollwork with various foliate designs entwined with the monogram of the Royal Burgh of Stirling. At the base of the stair newel posts are topped with carved depictions of the Stirling legend of the Wolf on the Craig: a sleeping sentry awoken by a howling wolf. The Provost’s Room is cited within the western block, the stencilled quote across the beam "the moir I stand on oppit hitht, my faultis moir subject ar to sitht" is taken from an inscription on 16th century Mar’s Wark.

With a separate access though the rear courtyard; the complex includes a purpose-built burgh officer’s house to the top floor, now offices. The external balustrade incorporates depictions of the Wallace Sword.

A full description of the external sculpture and the decorative interior of the complex is contained within a memorandum dated 19 February 1917, held within Stirling Council archives (3).

Stirling Council is no longer using the building, at the time of visit the building was being re-purposed as tenanted office space.

Information from HES Survey & Recording (IF) with kind assistance from Stirling Council. 14 March, 2017.

1) Gifford and Walker p709

2) Gifford and Walker p710

3) Memoradum as to the decoration of new municipal buildings at Stirling, 19 February, 1917. Stirling Council Archive accession reference 1278.