88 Recent Fire in Town Hall, Dumfries. 



its objects to take note of such passing events as are likely to 

 afford interest in the future, and of this description I regard the 

 fire which recently occurred at the Town Hall of Dumfries, and 

 of which I take leave to submit the following note : — 



The building has been put to several uses from time to time, 

 and structurally remodelled more or less and adapted to each 

 several purpose. Originally it was erected for a tabernacle or 

 church by Robert and James Haldane, who continued to conduct 

 religious services there for about eight or ten years. Built in 

 1802, on ground acquired from Robert Threshie, writer, and his 

 spouse, its first extent evidently embraced only the part now 

 forming the hall. It was a plain quadrangular edifice, so placed 

 that the sides did not extend at right angles with the street, 

 and the front was as much as three and a half feet further back 

 at the west side than it was at the east side. The structure, 

 as regards the sides and back at least, presents plain workman- 

 ship, the walls being built of rubble masonry, with no indication 

 of architectural blending. Of the facade which fronted towards 

 the street, nothing remains by which to judge of its character, 

 but the titles conditioned that it should be built of ashlar. 



Some time after its erection, in 1813, the Tabernacle was pur- 

 chased bv the Rev. Dr Babbington, of the Episcopal Chapel, 

 for the sum of £1050, but before the titles were prepared the 

 purchase was transferred to the county of Dumfries on condition 

 of Dr Babbington being paid £50 in addition to the price due 

 Messrs Haldane. Some further expenditure was found to be 

 needful before proceeding to convert the premises for county 

 purposes. Dr Babbington received, as had been promised, <£100, 

 in con.sideration of the loss of the pulpit of the Tabernacle. Mrs 

 M'Murdo, owner of the property on the west, was paid a like 

 sum of £100 for leave granted to the Countv to bring the front 

 of the building forward 15 feet, or 17^ feet at one side and 14 

 feet at the other, so as to allow the new front to be built parallel 

 with the street; this payment also conferred a right to the use 

 of the common passage on the west of the hall for access to the 

 back premises. And a small triangular piece of ground at the 

 back was purchased from Clerk Maxwell in order to allow of an 

 addition to the building being made there. 



Mr Gillespie, architect, Edinburgh, who had usuallv been 



