Description

Mid 17th century in origin; re-worked, probably in 18th century. 2-storey, 7-bay (3-1-3) simple classical Tolbooth. Ashlar; E and S elevations harled. Rusticated quoins. Heavily repaired in parts with cement render; some concrete cill repairs. Base course. Moulded cornice to W and S elevations, with remains on E elevation.

W ELEVATION: doorpiece at centre, with bolection moulded surround and pediment containing cartouche with Scott coat-of-arms; 2-leaf penelled door. Moulded panel above at 1st floor inscribed "EFB CMLB 1648" with 2 coronets. Regularly disposed fenestration in remaining bays; taller windows at 1st floor.

E ELEVATION: single-storey lean-to porch addition at centre; door to left return, 2 windows to E; adjoined to SW corner of free-standing former stable range of No 182 High Street, Cross Keys Hotel, (see separate listing). 2 windows at ground floor to left. Stair window to left of centre.

S ELEVATION: window at ground floor to left of centre.

N ELEVATION: adjoined to No 182 High Street, Cross Keys Hotel.

12 and 16-pane glazing patterns in sash and case windows; top-hopper at ground to E. All windows barred. Grey slates to piended roof. No stacks.

INTERIOR: 3 windowed former weigh-room down several steps to left. Cloakroom, with window to S, at rear; hatch in floor to former pit prison; circa 6ft square with rubble walls and earth floor. Straight stair to right from street; quarter-turned to right to 2-windowed room (former upper prison), dog-legged to left with 1-windowed kitchen ahead to left and door to right to 3-windowed former court-room, with plain cornice and coffered ceiling (except for S wall).

Statement of Interest

De-scheduled 12.2.2001. B Group with Nos 168-172, and 182 High Street. The panel inscription refers to Francis, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch and his wife, Margaret (Leslie), Countess of Buccleuch. The Tolbooth ceased use as a jail in 1841. The Tolbooth was used as a meeting place by Dalkeith Scientific Association and the Baptist Church. The Tolbooth was given to St Mary's Episcopal Chapel and endowed by Miss V I Kemp in March 1966 (from plaque in former court-room); the building was entirely refurbished by Armstrong and Thomas, Kirkcaldy, in January 1966 as a church hall, for which it is still used. Gibbet stones can be seen on the street in front of the door; the second last public hanging in Scotland apparently occurred here in 1827.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata IDs Q17505383 Q17569819

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)