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Jedburgh, Castlegate, Sheriff Court

Sheriff Courthouse (19th Century)

Site Name Jedburgh, Castlegate, Sheriff Court

Classification Sheriff Courthouse (19th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Old County Buildings

Canmore ID 96535

Site Number NT62SW 94

NGR NT 64985 20544

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/96535

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Jedburgh
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Roxburgh
  • Former County Roxburghshire

Architecture Notes

NMRS REFERENCE:

Date: 1812

Architect: Alexander Carrick, sculptor 1932 - panel to Sir Walter Scott

Activities

Publication Account (1996)

These were erected in 1812 at the sole expense of the heritors of the County, but the burgh contributed 'the old hall or stance, in consideration of which the heritors granted the community rights to an apartment in the upper flat for an office to the clerk of the burgesses and record-room; two apartments on the ground-floor for the public weights; the privilege of the Hall for the magistrates holding their courts and other public meetings of the burgesses'. The original W and N fronts are respectively of nine and three bays, and each has an advanced centre and a pilastered upper storey. The main court-room occupied the upper floor of the N front, but it was subdivided in 1861-2 and the interior arrangements were considerably altered then and at later times. Also in 1861-2, a new principal court-room was provided in a new S wing designed in matching style by David Rhind.

HISTORY

The existence of a tolbooth in Jedburgh is recorded in the early 16th century but its location is not known. In 1664 the magistrates declared that their council-house was ruinous, and ordered that the ruinous part of the church should be taken down and its stones re-used in erecting the new council house. This appears to have been on the site of the County Buildings, and in 1779 it was described as containing a courtroom, new council-room and closet.' A separate prison, built above a vault which was latterly allocated to the town drummer, formed part of a row of houses called 'the Tongue', which was demolished in 1756 after the erection of the Newgate.'

The 'new prison' adjoining the council-house was ready to receive its window-gratings in 1755, but a plan and estimate for the steeple by the contractor, Bailie James Winter, exceeded the available funds. In 1756 it was built to a height of only 3.7m above roof-level, to house the 'watch bell', and the work was completed in 1761 through the munificence of the parliamentary candidate, Sir Hew Dalrymple. In 1779 the council declared that the magistrates were empowered, as formerly, to imprison debtors in the council-house rather than in Newgate, and in 1789 the first improved bridewell in Scotland was opened by the county authorities. The old prison finally became redundant, save for its bell and clock, when a model jail designed in castellated style by Archibald Elliot was built on the site of Jedburgh Castle in 1820-3.

Information from ‘Tolbooths and Town-Houses: Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833’ (1996).

Sbc Note

Visibility: This is an upstanding building.

Information from Scottish Borders Council.

References

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