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 NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Municipal Buildings | Yes | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Town hall | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Cromwell Street | Yes | | | Point Street | Yes | | | Old Town Hall, South Beach | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1903 | 1905 | Build/construction | Original buildings opened by the Earl of Rosebery in 1906 | | 1918 | | Destruction/demolition | Destroyed by fire. Damage estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000 | | 1926 | 1929 | Reconstruction | Reconstruction after fire. Contracts advertised July 1926 | | 1983 | 1984 | | Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | John Robertson | | | 1903 | 1905 | Original building | | John Grant Chisholm | | | 1926 | | Reconstruction | | J J Armitage | | A | 1963 | 1984 | Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. Job Architect. | | Campbell & Arnott | | A | 1983 | 1984 | Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. | | John ('Ian') Emslie Arnott | | A | 1983 | 1984 | Original proposal to develop buildings as cultural centre not proceeded with. Conservation and repairs carried out. Job Architect. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Allen, Nic (ed.) | | Scottish Architects in Conservation | | | p21 | | Gifford, John | 1992 | Highland and Islands (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Penguin Books | p630 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | British Architect | 20 March 1903 | | | Page x - tenders | | British Architect | 14 August 1903 | | | p127 - laying foundation stone | | Builder | 2 July 1926 | | | p28 contracts open | | Building News | 21 August 1903 | | | p239 | | Building News | 13 March 1918 | | | p215 Reported destruction by fire |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 41738 | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Robert John Chisholm: L no3684 (box 14) |
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