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Field Visit
Date 28 May 1928
Event ID 1099308
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1099308
The Tolbooth, West Wemyss.
The Tolbooth or Town-house, which is a modest little structure standing on the southside of the main street, dates from about the beginning of the 18th century. It is two storeys in height and consists of an oblong main block, with a lofty bell-tower projecting towards the street. The masonry is of harled rubble. The main roof is pantiled, while that of the tower is slated. The windows have back-set margins. A vaulted pend passes through the western end of the main block and in it are the entrances to the cells. A forestair built against the tower gives access to the upper storey. On the front wall of the tower are two panels. The upper of these bears a coronet and an inscription, which has been partly re-cut and is now almost illegible. An old record * gives the legend as:
THIS FABRIC WAS BUILT BY EARL DAVID WEMYSS AND TOWN FOR THE CRIBBING OF VICE AND SERVICE TO CROWN.
The lower panel contains a coat of arms. At the top are the initials D.E.W. representing David, fourth Earl of Wemyss (1678-1720). The shield bears: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, and 2nd and 3rd, a lion rampant. Crest, a swan; supporters, two swans. A label below the shield bears the motto JE PENS[E], for Wemyss.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 28 May 1928.
*Information from Mt Stewart Tod, architect, Wemyss.
