Building record MAB42015 - STONEHAVEN TOLBOOTH

Former storehouse and tolbooth, now in use as a museum.

Former storehouse and tolbooth, now in use as a museum. The tolbooth is depicted on historic OS maps. The 1st edition shows a square building annotated 'Tollbooth'. By the 2nd edition the building is shown as square, consisting two rectangular buildings in an L-plan and a square building within it. It was built in the late 16th century as a storehouse by the Earl Marischal but became the Tolbooth when Stonehaven became the county town in about 1600 as it was the strongest building in town. In 1600, an Act of Parliament provided that the building was to become a ‘tolbooth’ and would be used by Sheriffs to hold court at ‘Stanehyve’. After 1624, the town business functions were conducted on the upper floor, and the ground floor was used as a prison. A north wing was added in the 17th century and is ‘nearly at right angles’ to the original rectangular building. Flagstones provided at the external area when the original building was built were retained to provide the ground level floor. By 1767 it had reverted to its former use as a storehouse. The Tolbooth was gifted to the town of Stonehaven by the Marquess of Landsdowne in 1934, and forms part of the Stonehaven Common Good. It was restored following World War 2 thanks to local and national fundraising by Stonehaven Town Council. It was restored in 1963 and used as a museum. There were further renovations in 1975. The museum closed in March 2011, and reopened two months later and is now run by volunteers.

Period Notes
Built in the late 16th century as a storehouse by the Earl Marischal but became the Tolbooth when Stonehaven became the county town in about 1600. After 1624, the town business functions were conducted on the upper floor, and the ground floor was used as a prison. A north wing was added in the 17th century. 1767 it had reverted to its former use as a storehouse. The Tolbooth was gifted to the town of Stonehaven by the Marquess of Landsdowne in 1934. It was restored in 1963 and used as a museum. There were further renovations in 1975. The museum closed in March 2011, and reopened two months later and is run by volunteers.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 22/02/15 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

EELES, F. C., 1897, STONEHAVEN, HISTORICAL & DESCRIPTIVE, 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB447.

Gourlay, R, 1978, Scottish Burgh Survey: Historic Stonehaven (Bibliographic reference). SAB2588.

SCAPE, 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY ABERDEENSHIRE AND CITY OF ABERDEEN: CULLEN TO MILTON NESS, ID 14758 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4866.

Author unknown, n.d., MEARNS LEADER, 06/06/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1258.

Sep 28 1993 , 28/3/93, 28/3/93 (Ground Photograph). SAB33362.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2025 2:26PM