Job Centre, 79-83 High Street, Dunfermline

This is a substantial 3-storey and basement building of 1805-11, designed by Archibald Elliot, originally a guildhall and later adapted as a Job Centre occupying numbers 79-83 High Street, Dunfermline. It is a building of group value, contributing significantly to the character of the area.

The design is symmetrical and classical in style. The exterior is constructed of droved sandstone ashlar with polished ashlar dressings. The basement is rusticated, the ground floor features V-jointed stonework, and a prominent pedimented entrance bay punctuates the principal (north) elevation, which is further emphasised by a 4-tier steeple. Band courses run above and below the ground floor, at window sill level to the first floor and just below the window sill level to the second floor; a moulded eaves band completes the exterior.

The north elevation’s projecting entrance bay is flanked by pilasters that terminate in a Doric entablature surmounted by a mutuled pediment above the first floor, above which the steeple rises. A recessed central entrance has a 2-leaf panelled timber door and rectangular fanlight, with narrow windows alongside. A round-arched window is located above, flanked by smaller round-arched windows. Regular fenestration is present in the three bays to either side. Later 20th-century alterations have enlarged the ground floor windows to fill round-arched surrounds; the central window on either side now provides access with a round-arched fanlight and a 2-leaf panelled timber door.

The steeple rises above the projecting pedimented entrance bay and features a moulded cornice at eaves level. The lower stage is square-plan with pilastered corners surmounted by urn-like finials, and a round-arched window on each side. The square-plan second stage has chamfered sides, a base course, a band course, and a moulded cornice. It incorporates clock faces with carved wreath-like hood moulds on each side. The circular-plan third stage has a projecting entablature supported on eight Ionic columns, with basket-arched, louvred windows interspersed. The spire at the apex is octagonal and features three band courses.

The west (Guildhall Street) elevation has seven bays. A round-arched arcaded walkway extends along five bays to the right of the ground floor, accessible by steps leading to the basement. A recessed entrance with a plain timber door is located to the right, alongside a narrow window. Blind round-arched panels are visible to two bays to the left of the ground floor. A segmental-headed vennel entrance with a double cast-iron gate bearing decorative finials is situated in the second bay from the right, leading to the basement. A round-arched louvred vent and a round-arched entrance with a plain timber door are also present. A pair of blind round-arched bays are located to the outer left of the basement. Regular fenestration is found on the upper floors, although one window on the outer left of the first floor and two windows on the outer left of the second floor have been blocked.

The upper storeys feature 6 and 12-pane timber sash and case windows, while fixed multi-pane timber frames (and sashes) are present on the ground floor. The roof is grey slate and piended.

The interior was largely destroyed by fire in the late 20th century and has been extensively modernised. Original features include a half-turn staircase with a decorative cast-iron balustrade in the entrance hall.