City Museum, Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate, Edinburgh

1. Renovated by R H Morham, 1879 and 1884 (see Notes). Irregularly arranged, 16th century tolbooth in Franco-Scottish style comprising advanced, 5-storey belfry-tower and 2-storey and attic, 4-bay former council chambers to right. Predominantly squared, coursed rubble with some snecking to earlier fabric.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: PRINCIPAL (S) ELEVATION: tollbooth comprises full-height square-plan projection with window at each level and round-arched pend running beneath; conical-capped bartizans at 5th floor with quatrefoil gunloops; conical spire to tower with flattened broaches, louvred openings and weathervane finial. Timber clock with leaded ogee-roof projects from 5th floor, supported by double-curved cast-iron brackets. Cast-iron railed forestair to council chambers abuts tower at E angle; corbelled and finialled oriel window to 1st floor right; deeply moulded dentiled attic cill course above, shouldered pedimented dormers with star and thistle finials. Metal rememberance plaque to centre with moulded and pedimented crest panel above.

INTERIOR: Ground floor modernised except for vaulted cell to S of tollbooth tower. Cellar beneath W end of main block with small windows to street level. 1st floor lobby with nail-studded stair-doorway. Main hall: pine panelling salvaged, 1954, from demolished houses in surrounding area; 18th century fireplace with plaster overmantle in E wall. Upper rooms contain 17th century ceilig with painted beams. Spire and bell-chamber retain early timbers within roof-structure and bell frames.

Predonminantly 12 and 15-pane timber sash and case windows with horns to council chambers. 9-pane fixed glazing with lugged upper panes to dormer windows. Broad ridge stack to rear of tower and end stack to E. Clay cans. Cast-iron rain water goods.