Building record MAB17272 - THE TOWN HOUSE, 34 LOW STREET, BANFF
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Town House and tolbooth with steeple.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 22063
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 6899 6395 (27m by 23m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ66SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Banff |
Type and Period (5)
Full Description
Town House and tolbooth with steeple. The Town House was built in 1796 and adjoins the earlier steeple which was freestanding when first constructed in 1764. The Town House is a plain, classic, 3-storey with 5-window ashlar building with a rusticated ground floor and quoined angles. The roof is slated and platformed. Prison wing is at the rear of the building (now offices). Plainstones on an elevated platform 2/3 steps above the pavement in front. The tolbooth steeple is ashlar and built in four stages topped by ball finials and a concave-sided spire. The first stage has a doorpiece in an arched recess, the second stage has a blind lunette, the third stage has a pedimented clockface, and the fourth stage features an arched belfry window. A watching brief was carried out at the site in 1999 by Murray Archaeological Services prior to the construction of a new boiler house. Substantial wall foundations and a possible filled-in well, probably of late 18th or early 19th century date, were uncovered during the course of the work. In 2004, structural recording of the building was undertaken by Murray Archaeological Services. A full photographic record of joists and other revealed structural details was made in addition to all features being measured and planned.
Period Notes
Townhouse 1796; steeple 1764-67.
Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, VOL XX, 366 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.
CRAMOND, W, 1891, ANNALS OF BANFF, 311 (Bibliographic reference). SAB244.
BLAIR, JL, 1966, ROYAL & ANCIENT BANFF, 10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB154.
MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 1999, WATCHING BRIEF FOR TOWN HOUSE BOILER ROOM, LOW STREET, BANFF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4690.
MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2004, THE TOWN HOUSE, BANFF: STRUCTURAL RECORDING NOV & DEC 2004, Building recording (Bibliographic reference). SAB4673.
MURRAY, H., 2004, TOWN HOUSE, BANFF: STRUCTURAL RECORDING (Bibliographic reference). SAB2946.
STRUCTURAL RECORD
MURRAY, H. K., 2006, DES VOL6, 2005, p.13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4540.
Building Survey
Jul 9 1985 , EU 10, EU 10 (Ground Photograph). SAB14011.
May 20 1986 , FU 5-12, FU 5-12 (Ground Photograph). SAB33487.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, BANFF BURGH 46,47 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XIII, 34 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0044;
- HES Listed Building Number: 22063;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ66SE434;
- NRHE Numlink: 241402;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ66SE0061;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB22063 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/241402 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (11)
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. VOL XIII, 34.
- --- SAB14011 Ground Photograph: Jul 9 1985 . EU 10. Black & White. EU 10.
- --- SAB154 Bibliographic reference: BLAIR, JL. 1966. ROYAL & ANCIENT BANFF. Y. Y. 10.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. BANFF BURGH 46,47.
- --- SAB1845 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1799. OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT. VOL XX, 366.
- --- SAB244 Bibliographic reference: CRAMOND, W. 1891. ANNALS OF BANFF. Y. 311.
- --- SAB2946 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY, H.. 2004. TOWN HOUSE, BANFF: STRUCTURAL RECORDING.
- --- SAB33487 Ground Photograph: May 20 1986 . FU 5-12. Black & White. FU 5-12.
- --- SAB4540 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY, H. K.. 2006. DES VOL6, 2005. p.13.
- --- SAB4673 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 2004. THE TOWN HOUSE, BANFF: STRUCTURAL RECORDING NOV & DEC 2004. Building recording.
- --- SAB4690 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 1999. WATCHING BRIEF FOR TOWN HOUSE BOILER ROOM, LOW STREET, BANFF. WB report.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
Record last edited
Nov 13 2025 2:10PM
