Old Town Hall, 65-69 George Street, Whithorn

Early 19th century, former town hall with prominent bell tower located in the centre of Whithorn, on the west side of George Street. The building is an irregular T-shape in plan, with a two-storey, three-bay main block fronting the street and a square bell tower and two-storeyed wing to the rear. It is rubble with ashlar dressings, with the street elevation harled with painted ashlar margins, quoins, cornice and blocking course.

EAST (FRONT) ELEVATION: Tall round-arched doorway at centre with geometric patterned fanlight and 2-leaf doors, leading to internal stair to 1st floor courtroom. Nineteenth century shop fronts flanking; tripartite to left with door to centre; single window to right with door flanking toward centre. Window to each bay at 1st floor. The date '1814' is inscribed on the blocking-course.

Lower 2-storey property adjoined to left, gable line of former 2-storey property on right return, now adjoined by tall single storey building. 4-pane glazing pattern in sash and case windows to courtroom. Grey slates. Ashlar coped skews. Broad end stacks. Re-used date stone '1709' built into lower rear of building.

TOWER AND SPIRE: 4-stage tower, set at the centre of the rear wall of the main block with top stage slightly intaken above ashlar band. Round-arched openings to 3 faces of 3rd stage and circular clock faces to 4th (top) stage. Balustraded parapet. Ashlar conical spire with louvred ventilator panel.

Former bell, now in Whithorn Museum (information courtesy of a member of the public 2022). Dated 1708 and inscribed PETER VANDER GHEIN HEEFT MY GHEGOTEN INT IAER / 1708 ('Peter Vander Ghein cast me in the year 1708') .