Basic Site Details

Name: Old Town Hall
Town, district or village: Stornoway
Island: Lewis
City or county: Ross and Cromarty
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B listed
Grid ref:
Notes: The memorial-stone of the public library, town and recreation-hall, and municipal buildings for Stornoway was laid last week by Major Matheson, proprietor of Lewis. Provost John Anderson explained that the buildings were undertaken for the purpose of supplying a much-felt want by giving shelter to the 2,500 Royal Naval Reserve men and fishermen who frequented the port during the herring fishing season. The total cost of all the buildings will amount to £11,000. [Building News 21 August 1903 page 239]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Municipal BuildingsYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Town hall  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 3Cromwell StreetYes 
Item 2 of 3Point StreetYes 
Item 3 of 3Old Town Hall, South BeachYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 419031905Build/constructionOriginal buildings opened by the Earl of Rosebery in 1906
Item 2 of 41918 Destruction/demolitionDestroyed by fire. Damage estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000
Item 3 of 419261929ReconstructionReconstruction after fire. Contracts advertised July 1926
Item 4 of 419831984 Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out.

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 5John Robertson  19031905Original building
Item 2 of 5John Grant Chisholm  1926 Reconstruction
Item 3 of 5J J Armitage A19631984Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. Job Architect.
Item 4 of 5Campbell & Arnott A19831984Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out.
Item 5 of 5John ('Ian') Emslie Arnott A19831984Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. Job Architect.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p21
Item 2 of 2Gifford, John1992Highland and Islands (The Buildings of Scotland) Penguin Booksp630

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5British Architect20 March 1903  Page x - tenders
Item 2 of 5British Architect14 August 1903  p127 - laying foundation stone
Item 3 of 5Builder2 July 1926  p28 contracts open
Item 4 of 5Building News21 August 1903  p239
Item 5 of 5Building News13 March 1918  p215 Reported destruction by fire

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register41738 
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Robert John Chisholm: L no3684 (box 14)