Tain Tolbooth is a municipal building in the High Street, Tain, Highland, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a courthouse, is a Category A listed building.[1]
| Tain Tolbooth | |
|---|---|
 Tain Tolbooth | |
| Location | High Street, Tain |
| Coordinates | 57°48′43″N 4°03′17″W / 57.8120°N 4.0548°W |
| Built | 1708 |
| Architect | Alexander Stronach |
| Architectural style(s) | Scottish baronial style |
Listed Building – Category A | |
| Official name | Tain Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, including Tolbooth, High Street, Tain |
| Designated | 25 March 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB41867 |
  Shown in Highland | |
History
editThe first municipal building in Tain was a medieval tolbooth which was instigated by the then provost, John McCullough, in 1631. A bell, cast by the Dutch foundryman, Michael Burgerhuys of Middelburg, was specially made in time for its opening. The non-conformist minister, Thomas Ross was incarcerated in the tolbooth between 1776 and 1677.[2] However, it became necessary to demolish the old tolbooth after the steeple collapsed in a storm in 1703.[3]
The current tolbooth was designed by Alexander Stronach in the Scottish baronial style, built in coursed stone and was completed in 1708.[4][5][6] The design involved a three-stage tower facing onto the High Street. The tower contained small sash windows in the second and third stages. The tolbooth was accompanied by a two-storey council house, extending southeast along the High Street, which was also completed in 1708. The upper part of the tolbooth was enhanced by the addition of corner bartizans and a spire in 1733. The bell, which had been recovered from the old tolbooth, was installed in the third stage of the tower in 1733 and a clock was installed there in 1750.[1]
In 1751, William Ross, who was a member of the prominent Ross family and the son of the 18th Chief, was arrested and incarcerated in the tolbooth for wearing highland dress[7] and, in 1829, three prisoners escaped from the building.[8]
The old two-storey council house, extending along the High Street, was demolished in the early 1820s. The foundation stone for a new courthouse was laid in 1825: it was designed by Alexander Gordon and completed in around 1826 but was destroyed in a fire, just six years later, in 1833.[9] The current courthouse was designed by Thomas Brown, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1843.[10] The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage of four bays facing onto the High Street. There was a round headed doorway in the second bay from the left and the right-hand bay was gabled and slightly projected forward. The building was fenestrated by pairs of round headed windows on the ground floor and bi-partite mullioned windows on the first floor. At roof level, there was a crenelated parapet with corner turrets. Internally, the principal room was the courtroom on the ground floor at the front of the building.[1]
Modifications made the tolbooth in the 19th century included the installation, in 1848, of a new doorway and a panel above it bearing a Lion rampant.[9] The courthouse was extended to the rear with an additional four-bay block, which was built to a design by Andrew Maitland and completed in 1876.[11] A new clock was installed in the tower of the tolbooth in 1877.[1] The complex continued to accommodate the council chamber of the burgh council for much of the 20th century,[12] but ceased to be the local seat of government after the enlarged Ross and Cromarty District Council was formed in 1975.[13][14] Instead, the council chamber became the meeting place of the Royal Burgh of Tain Community Council.[15] The building also continues to serve as the venue for hearings of Tain Sheriff Court.[16]
Works of art in the complex include a portrait, painted in 1907 by George Fiddes Watt, of Alexander Wallace who was Honorary Sheriff Substitute for Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland.[17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Historic Environment Scotland. "Tain Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, including Tolbooth, High Street, Tain (LB41867)". Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Brown, P. Hume (1927). The register of the Privy Council of Scotland. 3rd series. Vol. 5 1676–1678. To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses 120, George Street, Edinburgh. p. 268. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Domestic Annals of Scotland: 1689-1748. W. and R. Chambers. 1861. p. 277.
- ^ "Tolbooth". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Stell, Geoffrey (1981). "The earliest tolbooths: a preliminary account". Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. pp. 445–453.
- ^ Tolbooths and Town-houses Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. 1996. p. 196. ISBN 978-0114957995.
- ^ Gibson, John G. (1998). Traditional Gaelic Bagpiping, 1745-1945. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-0773568907.
- ^ A daring escape from Tain Tolbooth. 21 October 1829. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Tain, High Street, Tolbooth, Tower (14724)". Canmore. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Tain Courthouse and prison". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Gifford, John (2003). Highland and Islands (Buildings of Scotland Series). Yale University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0300096255.
- ^ "No. 18016". The Edinburgh Gazette. 16 March 1962. p. 161.
- ^ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Tain Burgh". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Meetings". The Royal Burgh of Tain Community Council. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Tain Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court". Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Watt, George Fiddes. "Bailie Alexander Wallace of Tain, JP, Honorary Sheriff Substitute for Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland". Art UK. Retrieved 15 August 2022.