Archaeology Notes

Event ID 726889

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/726889

NX65SE 29 68065 50896.

(NX 6806 5089) Old Tolbooth (NR)

OS 6" map (1938)

The Tolbooth, with its eastern tower, is a three-storied building of three periods, the first begun in 1625; the last about 1751 (J Robison 1926). Internally it measures 65 ft by 15 1/2 ft with walls 4 ft thick. It occupies the site of still older buildings (J H Maxwell 1912).

RCAHMS 1914

The old Tolbooth was described as "recently demolished" in 1570. The present Tolbooth was erected soon after 1579 and a grant of money was made in 1591 towards the cost of its erection (Town Council records, 16th century).

W Dickie 1908

A limited excavation within the tolbooth revealed a thick layer of floor make-up composed of river cobbles and silt. At least four phases of floor surfacing made of cobbles, wood and brick were recorded. The foundations of the building were seen to rest on the natural and no indication of earlier structures were found. No dating evidence earlier than the 19th century was recovered.

Sponsors: SUAT, HS, Stewartry District Council.

R Cachart 1991.