The Tholsel — High Street

Attached three- or five-bay two-storey over basement tholsel with attic, built 1695-8, on a T-shaped plan; single-bay (single-bay deep) full-height central return (east). Rebuilt, 1759-61. Extended, 1829, producing present composition. Renovated, 1951. Burnt, 1985. Restored, 1986-7. Replacement flat topped hipped slate roof on a square plan centred on weathervane-topped copper-clad "cupola" on an octagonal plan; pressed iron ridges extending into clay ridge tiles, rooflights, and cast-iron rainwater goods on ogee-detailed cut-limestone cornice on drag edged dragged cut-limestone frieze retaining cast-iron downpipes. Repointed coursed rubble stone walls with rusticated cut-limestone quoins to corners. Series of five round arches (ground floor) with two margined tooled cut-limestone steps, fossilised limestone ashlar piers on moulded cushion courses on battered plinths centred on dragged cut-limestone Roman Doric columns with cut-limestone archivolts or voussoirs. Series of five round arches, dragged cut-limestone Roman Doric columns with cut-limestone archivolts or voussoirs framing spear head-detailed wrought iron railings. Pair of square-headed door openings, timber surrounds with monolithic pilasters on padstones supporting archivolts on fluted scroll consoles framing timber panelled double doors having blind fanlight-detailed overpanels. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-limestone sills, and cut-limestone Gibbsian surrounds centred on triple keystones framing timber casement windows. Interior restored, 1986-7, including (basement): limewashed groin vaulted cellars; (first floor): double-height vestibule on an octagonal plan with carved timber Classical-style surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled double doors, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; square-headed door opening into Assembly Room with timber surround framing timber panelled double doors having stained glass overlight; Assembly Room on a rectangular plan with plasterwork cornice to ceiling. Street fronted with limestone flagged footpath to front.