{{short description|Municipal Building in Banff, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Banff Town House | native_name = | image = Town House (geograph 2282586).jpg | caption= The building in 2011 | locmapin =Scotland Aberdeenshire | map_caption =Shown in Aberdeenshire | coordinates ={{coord|57.66441|-2.52144|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location =34 Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | area = | built = {{start date and age|1767|p=yes}} (steeple) <br />{{start date and age|1797|p=yes}} (town house) | architect = John Adam (steeple)<br />James Reid (town house) | architecture =Neoclassical style | designation1 =Category A Listed Building | designation1_offname = Low Street, Tolbooth Steeple | designation1_date = 22 February 1972 | designation1_number = LB22062 | designation2 =Category A Listed Building | designation2_offname = 34 Low Street, Townhouse | designation2_date = 22 February 1972 | designation2_number = LB22063 | website= }} '''Banff Town House''' is a municipal building in Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The building, which is used as a customer service point and job centre, forms part of a complex consisting of a steeple, completed in 1767, which is a Category A listed building,<ref name=listed1>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB22062|desc= Low Street, Tolbooth Steeple |access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref> and a town house, completed in 1797, which is also a Category A listed building.<ref name=listed2>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB22063|desc= 34 Low Street, Townhouse |access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>
==History== The first municipal building in the town was a tolbooth which was built of the west side of Low Street, on the corner with Strait Path, in the early 16th century.<ref name=canmore>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA|num=241402|num2=NJ66SE 434|desc=Banff, 34 Low Street, Town House|fewer-links=yes| access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref> After the tolbooth became dilapidated the burgh leaders decided to construct a new building, the steeple, on the east side of Low Street.<ref name=canmore/> There were strong objections from Rear-Admiral William Gordon, who was concerned that the steeple might collapse on his property, Carmelite House, located to the south.<ref name="McKean13">{{cite book |last1=McKean |first1=Charles |title=Banff & Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide |date=1990 |publisher=Mainstream Publications Ltd. |location=Edinburgh |isbn=185158-231-2 |page=13}}</ref>
The steeple was designed by John Adam in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone by a master mason, John Marr, and was completed in 1767.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=421329 |title=Tolbooth Steeple|publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects| access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray|first1= David W. |last1=Walker |first2= Matthew|last2= Woodworth|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0300204285|page=51}}</ref> The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with just one bay facing onto Low Street; the first stage involved a doorway with a cornice and a blind oculus above, the second stage incorporated a blind Diocletian window, the third stage involved a clock with a pediment, the fourth stage incorporated a round headed louvered opening and the fifth stage took the form of a hexagonal spire.<ref name=listed1/> The bell in the steeple was designed and cast by Lester and Pack of London.<ref name=canmore/>
In the late 18th century, the burgh leaders decided to augment the structure with a town house on a site to the north of the steeple. The town house was financed by public subscription and amounts subscribed included a donation of 100 guineas from the local member of parliament, Sir William Grant.<ref name=canmore/> The town house was designed by James Reid in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £1,700 and was completed in 1797.<ref name=listed2/> The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Low Street; the central bay featured a doorway with a four-light rectangular window above; the building was fenestrated with sash windows in the other bays on the ground floor and in the bays on the first and second floors. Internally, the principal rooms were a reception room on the first floor and a ballroom on the second floor.<ref name=canmore/> There was also an office for the sheriffs' clerk and some prison cells.<ref name=listed2/>
The Banff Museum was established in the town house in 1828 but then relocated to Banff Academy in 1838.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/21533/banff-and-macduff-regeneration-report-16-17.pdf |title=Banff and Macduff: Developing Excellence in Our North Coast Communities 2016/17 Report| publisher=Aberdeenshire Council|page=8| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref> Following significant population growth, largely associated with the fishing industry, Banff became a police burgh with the town house as its headquarters in 1840.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10358024 |title=Banff Burgh|publisher=Vision of Britain| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref> The town's mercat cross was moved several times before finding a permanent home on the Plainstones, the elevated stone pavement in front of the town house, in June 1900.<ref name="McKean10">McKean 1990, p. 10</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA|num=18458|num2=NJ66SE 26 |desc=Banff, Low Street, Market Cross|fewer-links=yes| access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref> A Russian cannon, captured at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War and presented to the town after the war, was relocated to the Plainstones in 1901.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://banffmacduffheritagetrail.co.uk/the-missing-cannon/|title=The Missing Cannon|publisher=Banff Macduff Heritage Trail|access-date=20 December 2023}}</ref>
The town house continued in the role of burgh headquarters for much of the 20th century<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=18872|page=365|date=24 April 1970|city=e}}</ref> and continued to be the meeting place of the enlarged Banff and Buchan District Council after it was formed in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/65/contents|title=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23881|page=2781|date=3 November 1995|city=e}}</ref> It ceased to be the local seat of government after the new unitary authority, Aberdeenshire Council, was formed in Aberdeen in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/39/contents |title= Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|publisher=Legislation.co.uk| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref> However, it continued to serve as the local area office of the new council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/contact-us/reach-a-council-office/ |title=Reach a council office|publisher= Aberdeenshire Council| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref> An extensive programme of refurbishment works, which created improved facilities for the local customer service point and job centre, was completed by Morrison Construction at a cost of £1.75 million in July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/16659/banff-and-macduff-regeneration-report-201516-copy.pdf |title=Banff and Macduff Regeneration Town Centre Report 2015/16|publisher=Aberdeenshire Council|page=12| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/644023/banff-town-house-to-reopen-after-refurbishment/ |title= Banff Town House to reopen after £1.75million refurbishment|date=22 July 2015|newspaper=Press and Journal| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/banff/council-offices-change-in-175-million-project-158174/ |title= Council offices change in £1.75 million project|date=22 July 2015|newspaper=Grampian Online| accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Banff Townhouse - geograph.org.uk - 1471197.jpg|The steeple and Carmelite House File:Market Cross Banff.jpg|The town's mercat cross. The edge of the town house is on the right </gallery>
==See also== * List of listed buildings in Banff, Aberdeenshire
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Government buildings completed in 1797 Category:City chambers and town halls in Scotland Townhouse and steeple Category:Category A listed buildings in Aberdeenshire Category:1797 establishments in Scotland Category:Listed government buildings in Scotland Category:Neoclassical architecture in Scotland