Town House, High Street, Dunbar

This is a three-storey town house, dating from around 1620. It may incorporate elements from the 16th century, with a stair tower likely raised around 1650. The building stands on the High Street in Dunbar.

The house is constructed of red sandstone rubble, originally harled, with ashlar dressings. The rear is harled, and the roof is slate-covered. The windows have a small-pane glazing pattern. A projecting, semi-octagonal tower is centrally positioned on the west elevation, rising above the wallhead. A pend entrance with rounded corners is on the northwest side, running through to the rear of the building. String courses divide the upper stages of the tower. Narrow, four-pane windows illuminate the stairwell. Two 19th-century clocks are situated on the north and south sides, and two stone sundials with copper pointers are found on the northwest and southwest sides. Ground floor windows in the flanking bays were created in 1912 during the removal of lean-to additions by Robert Orr of Haddington. A mullioned window on the north first floor features a moulded architrave and corbel supports, which may have been incorporated from a castle ruin. The south first-floor window has a transom and a barred lower half, likely derived from its former use as a gaol. A window appears to have been blocked to the south of this. Pedimented dormers flank the tower, with blocked oval panels within. The tower roof features a slated skirt and lead flashings, topped by a steeper, timber-framed, lead-covered spire with louvred oval lucarnes and a wrought-iron cockerel weathervane. Gabletted crowsteps are present, along with rubble gable head stacks with thackstones.

The rear (east) elevation has a two-storey projection with a pentice roof and an enlarged pend opening. A central, pedimented dormer is also visible. The south gable facing Silver Street has two ground-floor windows and displays various early alterations.

A sympathetic extension block, designed by George Simpson of Edinburgh in 1927, abuts the north gable and serves as public offices.

Inside, a paved pend has a turnpike stair on the right. Heavy timber doors are fitted with simple iron hinges, locks, and handles. Vaulted chambers on the first floor, formerly prison cells, are lined with rafters and wooden ceilings. A south cell door has a decorative wrought-iron grille and bolt, possibly taken from the nearby castle. The third-floor Council Chamber extends the full length of the building and features a coomb ceiling, wood panelling dating from the mid to late 18th century, and gilding. Later shutters are on the north side, along with two end chimneypieces. One is bolection moulded, and the other has a decorative 19th-century cast-iron fire surround with a basket-arched chimneypiece. Panels displaying the Arms of Union, painted and gilded, are positioned above the fireplaces; one is dated 1686, and the other is from the Georgian period.