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Haddington, Court Street, Town House

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Town Hall (18th Century)

Site Name Haddington, Court Street, Town House

Classification Town Hall (18th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Town Hall

Canmore ID 56578

Site Number NT57SW 83

NGR NT 51476 73895

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/56578

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

View from west
View from westFloor plans. Preparatory drawing for 'Tolbooths and Town-Houses', RCAHMS, 1996. N.d.Oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the ESE.General oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the SW.Oblique aerial view of Haddington, Haddington Town Hall, Corn Exchange, Neilson Park, looking S.Aerial viewGeneral view of High Street, Haddington.View from north of rear of 42-48 Market Street with Town House steeple in background.View from westView of steeple from south eastOblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the SE.Aerial viewAerial viewInterior, first floor, main room to west, view from eastView from W showing W frontView from W showing W frontGeneral view from north eastInterior, ground floor, council chamber, view from south westInterior, main staircase, detail of ancient document chestGeneral oblique aerial view of Haddington High Street centred on theTown House, taken from the W.Haddington, Court Street, Town House, NT57SW 83, Ordnance Survey index card, RectoInterior, main staircase, view of ancient document chest, lid closedView from north of rear of 42-48 Market Street with Town House steeple in background.General view from west (glass missing from Venetian window)View of steeple from north eastOblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the ENE.Haddington, general view, showing Town House and High Street. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.Aerial viewInterior, main staircase, view of ancient document chest, lid closedGeneral oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the WSW.Aerial view.View from south westInterior, ground floor, council chamber, view from south westInterior, vestibule, detail of burgh arms on floorGeneral view from westAerial viewInterior, vestibule, detail of burgh arms on floorInterior, main staircase, detail of ancient document chestAscent of Haddington Steeple.General oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the NNW.General oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the W.General oblique aerial view centred on the central area of the town, taken from the NW.Aerial viewView from westInterior, ground floor, council chamber, view from south eastView from north of rear of 42-48 Market Street with Town House steeple in background.

Administrative Areas

  • Council East Lothian
  • Parish Haddington
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District East Lothian
  • Former County East Lothian

Architecture Notes

INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE ARCHITECTURE CATALOGUE:

ARCHITECT: William Adam

James Gillespie Graham, 1830-31 (Additions and Spire)

Further Details

Activities

Publication Account (1978)

An early reference to the Tolbooth occurs in 1425 (HTC Records, n. d., i, 19). References to its repair include a 1571 notice of 'the drawbrig of the tolbuith to be reparit, biggit and mendit in all necassaris with all diligens' (HTC Records, n. d., ii, 143). Reference to the drawbridge of the Tolbooth occurs again in 1658 (HTC Records, n .d., v, 39). In 1682 because of the large number of prisoners escaping from the structure the Town Council thought fit to hire 'some young, able, qualified and substantial man' as jailer (HTC Records, n. d., vi, 3). By 1732 the Tolbooth was ruinous and the Town Council meetings were transferred to the towns' library, while the steeple, town clock and great bell were taken down for safety (HTC Records, n.d,, vi, 247) . A newTown House was begun in 1748. The building had accommodation for the sheriff court and Town Council while the ground floor held prisoners. The Assembly Rooms were added to the Town House in 1788 and were built on pillars so that a market for grain could be held beneath. This market was ultimately abandoned (Gray, 1944, 140). The steeple dates from the early 1830s and the whole building underwent renovation in 1956.

Information from ‘Historic Haddington: The Archaeological Implications of Development’ (1978).

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