Login | Register
Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Dornoch, Castle Street, Sheriff Court House

  • Details
  • Collections
  • Images

Court House (19th Century), War Memorial (20th Century) (1923)

Site Name Dornoch, Castle Street, Sheriff Court House

Classification Court House (19th Century), War Memorial (20th Century) (1923)

Alternative Name(s) County Buildings; Seaforth Highlanders War Memorial

Canmore ID 93408

Site Number NH78NE 34

NGR NH 79747 89603

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/93408

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

Toggle Aerial | View on large map
  • Correction

Digital Images

Ground Floor. Strong Room. General view from East.
Ground Floor. Strong Room. General view from East.Ground Floor. Strong Room. Detail of key.Ground Floor. View of strong room door from clerk's computer room..First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View of Public Gallery from North WestFirst Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View through linking stair into agent's room from East.Detail of round-headed lancet windows and war memorial.Ground Floor. Sheriff Clerk's Computer Room. General view from North West.First Floor. Agent's Room. View from West looking into courtroom.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View of public gallery balcony seating.Ground Floor. Main stair. View from South West.First Floor. Sheriff's Room. Detail of fireplace.front Elevation. View from North West.General view from East.General view from South.Ground Floor. View of West corridor from East.Portrait of Sir James MathesonGround Floor. Stair. View of main staircase from North.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View of jury benches from South East.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View of public gallery benches from North.First Floor. Landing. View from East.View of entrance arcade from North East.Rear Elevation. General View From South East.First Floor. Stair to public gallery balcony. View from North West.Ground Floor. Holding Room. Detail of key-pad security lock and spyglass.Ground Floor. Holding Room. Detail of spyglassView of entrance frontGround Floor. Strong Room. Detail of iron door.Detail of main stair balustrade and newel post, Sheriff Court House, Dornoch.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. General view from South West.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. View of plaster ceiling.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. Detail of light fitting.General View from South. Battlemented screen-wall.Ground Floor. Main stair. Detail of balustrade.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. General view of Public Gallery from West.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. General view looking down from public gallery balcony to the accused box, witness box, jury and sheriff seating.First Floor. View of main stair from North East.First Floor. Agent's room. View from North West.First Floor. Witness Room. View from North West.General view from North East.Ground Floor. Main stair. View from North East.Sherrif Courthouse, Castle Street, Dornoch, Highland View of entrance frontView of entrance frontPortrait of Sir James MathesonPortrait of Donald Matheson of ShinessGround Floor. Strong Room. General view from West.First Floor. Sheriff Courtroom. Detail of round headed lancet windows.View of entrance arcade from West.Ground Floor. Secondary stair. View from North West.First Floor. Stair to public gallery balcony. View from North West.Ground Floor. Sheriff clerk's public office. View from North West.Ground Floor. Entrance Hall. View from North East.General viewGround Floor. Strong Room. View from North West.Ground Floor. Strong Room. Detail of window with iron internal shutters and external security bars.Ground Floor. Main stair. Detail of newel post.First Floor. Sheriff's Room. View from North East.First Floor. Sheriff's Room. View from North East with vanity open.First Floor. Jury Room. View from North West.Detail of war memorial plaque above main entrance.View of entrance arcade from West.Ground Floor. Holding Room. General view from North East.Ground Floor. Entrance Hall. View of recessed window with shutter open.Ground Floor. Entrance Hall. View of recessed window with shutter closed.Front Elevation. View from North East.Front Elevation. Detail of blank shield.View of main entrance from North East.Portrait of Donald Matheson of Shiness

Administrative Areas

  • Council Highland
  • Parish Dornoch
  • Former Region Highland
  • Former District Sutherland
  • Former County Sutherland

Archaeology Notes

NH78NE 34 79747 89603

For (predecessor) Tolbooth (NH 798 897), see NH78NE 26.

Further Details

Activities

Photographic Survey (30 November 2015 - 1 December 2015)

A photographic survey of the building was carried out prior to a proposed conversion to form multiple uses including a deli/ cafe and spa-rooms.

Information from HES Survey and Recording (IF) 30/11/2015.

Further Details

Note (30 November 2015)

Thomas Brown II architect, constructed 1849-50. Two storey sheriff court and county building with screen walls abutting the neighbouring former jail (also by Thomas Brown II) and Dornoch Castle. Brown had been appointed architect to the Prison Board of Scotland in 1837, designing a number of prisons and courthouses across Scotland including nearby Tain and Cromarty.

Ground floor East contains office spaces for the sheriff clerk, a strong room and secondary stair access to upper floor. West wing contains further offices (part in use as a service point by Highland Council) along with the holding room for the accused. Main stair provides access to 1st floor court room, along with a series of rooms for witnesses, the jury, agent and sheriff. Green space to the rear of the building is advised to have latterly been home to bee hives.

The sheriff court is understood to have been closed in 2013 by the Scottish Court Service with all business transferred to Tain. The building has been acquired by a private owner and is proposed (2015) for conversion to form multiple uses including a deli/ cafe and spa-rooms.

Visited by HES Survey and Recording (IF and ZB) 30/11/2015. Architect information drawn from the Dictionary of Scottish Architects.

Further Details

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions


Contribute Text