Description
Matthews & Lawrie, 1878-82. Flemish-Baronial, Overwood
sandstone ashlar. 2 tall storeys and attic. 7-bay front.
Centre advanced, at ground floor arched entrance in gableted
porch, at 1st floor bipartite mullioned and transomed
window with trefoil heads to lights set in squareheaded
recess and surmounted by carved arms of Burgh of Inverness,
at attic, gablet containing bipartite window with arched
lights, set between angle finials surmounted by heraldic
beasts and flanked by circular angle turrets with tall
conical fishscale slated roofs. Outer windows, bipartite
mullioned and transomed with trefoil-headed lights at ground
floor, bipartite mullioned and transomed with arched lights
set in continuous arched hoodmoulds at 1st floor. Circular angle bartizans with octagonal caphouses with tall octagonal fishscale
slated roofs. Pierced parapet. Spirelet in centre, now truncated.
In W gable, panel containing burgh arms of 1686, in E
gable, panel containing arms of Charles II, both removed
from Old Bridge of Inverness Notable interior;
groin-vaulted vestibule leading to staircase lit by stained
glass windows (by Adam & Small, Glasgow); public hall with
panelled and painted ceiling and stained glass windows;
Council Chamber enlarged, John Hinton Gall, 1894, with
panelled ceiling; stained glass commemorative of Diamond
Jubilee, designed by J H Stewart, executed by William Meikle
& Son, Glasgow; 1898. Extension to south, James R Rhind,
1904, following style of original. Front to Castle Street,
3 storeys, 7 bays with shops at ground floor; change of
building line at join of extension to old work masked by
turret corbelled out from wall. Slated roofs. Ornate
cast-iron lamp standards flanking entrance.
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