Galashiels Burgh Chambers
Galashiels Burgh Chambers is a municipal building in Albert Place, Galashiels, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Galashiels Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building. History The first municipal building in the town was a tolbooth completed around the time when the town became a burgh of barony in 1599. Like other Scottish tolbooths, it was primarily used as a prison, but by the mid-19th century the it was in a dilapidated condition. Following significant population growth, largely associated with the woollen industry, the area became a police burgh in 1850. The new burgh commissioners decided to commission a new municipal building for the burgh: it was designed by Robert Hall & Co. in the Scottish Renaissance style, built in ashlar stone at a cost of £2,200 and was completed in 1867. The design originally involved a symmetrical main frontage with four bays facing onto Albert Place; the central section of two bays, which slightly projected forward, featured two segmental sash windows on the ground floor, a tall two-light window with tracery on the first floor and a stepped gable above. The outer bays were fenestrated with segmental sash windows, although there was a panel in the