Kelso Town Hall

The first municipal building in Kelso was a tolbooth which dated back to the 1670s. It had a tall tower on the southwest side and, like other buildings in Kelso, it was originally thatched and was almost certainly badly damaged in the fire which destroyed much of the town in 1684. By the early 19th century the tolbooth was in a ruinous condition and the burgh leaders initiated a campaign by public subscription to raise money for its replacement, for which the 5th Duke of Roxburghe, whose seat was at Floors Castle, provided the site and donated the majority of the money. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the 5th Duke of Roxburghe on 20 March 1816. It was designed in the…