Tolbooth, High Street, Musselburgh

The Tolbooth in Musselburgh is a historic building dating back to 1590, with a steeple that bears the date 1496, and parts that may originate from an earlier Tolbooth. It underwent renovation in 1840. The structure has three storeys and features a steeple at the southwest corner, along with irregular fenestration. A quarter turn forestair on the east gable leads to a later flat-roofed square enclosed porch that provides access to the first floor.

Above the first floor, there is a corbelled parapet with a bartizan at the southeast corner and machicolation above the forestair, which is shared with the Town House. The square tower is slightly advanced and consists of three floors below a corbelled parapet, with quoins. The ground floor features an arched doorway, while the first floor has a window with a heavy hoodmould that extends across the width of the tower.

The tower is constructed of rubble above the parapet and transitions to an octagonal shape above the clock dials, which are dated 1883 and 1496 on the east and west faces, respectively. This is topped by a wide modillioned cornice and a diagonally set tiered octagonal slated spire with an ogee top and weather cock.

On the south elevation of the main part of the building, the ground floor includes a small door, a wide square-headed pend, and four small windows. The first floor has three small windows, while above the parapet, there are five smaller windows with raised margins. The building features three chimney stacks, one of which projects from the east gable and is flanked by small windows. The materials include ashlar and rubble above the parapet, with a slate roof.

Inside, all three floors are barrel-vaulted, which includes the prison cells and the old Council Chamber located on the first floor.