Old Town Hall (Dunbar)

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Old Dunbar Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Dunbar is located in the Scottish town of Dunbar in the Council Area East Lothian . In 1971 the building was included in the Scottish List of Monuments in the highest category A. In addition, it forms a category B monument ensemble with various surrounding buildings. A former classification as a Scheduled Monument was revoked in 1995.

history

A year of construction is given in various publications in the early 17th century or, more precisely, around 1620. However, a dendrochronological examination of three beams from 2008 dates the felling of the trees used to the years 1524 and 1539. This is in line with the first mention of the town hall in 1539, so that the year of construction was adjusted to 1539. The upstream stair tower is more recent. It was built around 1650. From the late 18th to the early 19th century, the building also housed the city prison. A police station was located there in the early 20th century. The old town hall has been redesigned several times over the centuries. Around 1920 the Harl plaster was removed, which increased erosion. The interior was restored around 2010.

description

The building is right at the junction of Silver Street and High Street in the center of Dunbar. The masonry of the three-story town hall is made of rubble from red sandstone . The rear facade is plastered with Harl. The hexagonal stair tower emerges on the west-facing front . Belt cornices divide its facade horizontally. It closes with a slate-covered helmet with oval hatches and a wrought-iron weathercock. Two tower clocks were installed underneath in the 19th century. Two sundials with copper gnomons are installed in between. Lukarnen flank the tower. On the left is a twin window with a stone mullion below. The south side along Silver Street is unadorned with the exception of two windows on the ground floor. The slate roof is worked with a stepped gable .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ Entry on Old Dunbar Town Hall  in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 0 ′ 7.8 "  N , 2 ° 30 ′ 56.4"  W.