Town Hall, The Square, Greenlaw

Greenlaw Town Hall is a Category A listed civic building on The Square in Greenlaw, a small town in the Scottish Borders. Built in 1831 in the Greek Revival style, it is one of the most striking public buildings in rural Berwickshire and a reminder of the days when Greenlaw served as the county town.

What is Greenlaw Town Hall?

The building was designed by the architect John Cunningham as a new county courthouse and administrative centre. It replaced an older courthouse from 1712 that stood near Greenlaw Church and was judged inadequate by the county justices and demolished in 1830. The new building was funded by a local landowner, Sir William Purves-Hume-Campbell, who paid for it at his own expense. Construction was carried out by a local builder, William Waddell, working in smooth ashlar stone.

What does it look like?

The architecture is deliberately grand for a village square. Giant Ionic columns dominate the front, and broad expanses of finely dressed stone give the facade a calm, classical look. Above the main structure rises a dome. It was not purely decorative: the domed room was designed as a fire-proof store for valuable documents and records, an important function for a building that housed the county's legal and administrative business.

What has it been used for?

Over almost two centuries the hall has had many lives. It began as a courthouse and county buildings, hosting the legal and civic life of Berwickshire. During the Second World War it was used as a base by a Polish tank regiment, a notable link between this quiet Borders town and Poland. In the 1970s the interior was converted to house a swimming pool, which shows how flexible a large civic building can be.

The hall fell vacant in 1998 and slowly deteriorated, eventually appearing on the Buildings at Risk Register. A major restoration, supported by Historic Scotland, followed, and the building reopened to the community in May 2011. Today it again serves as a community hub.

Why visit?

• It is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture in a rural Scottish setting.
• The Square is compact and easy to explore on foot, so the hall can be seen along with other sights of the town.
• The Polish wartime connection adds an interesting layer for visitors from Poland.
• The rescue of the building from decay is a good example of heritage restoration.

Frequently asked questions

When was Greenlaw Town Hall built? It was completed in 1831 to a design by John Cunningham.

Who paid for it? Sir William Purves-Hume-Campbell, a local baronet, funded it at his own expense.

What is the dome for? It contained a fire-proof room intended for the safe storage of documents.

Is it protected? Yes, it is a Category A listed building, the highest level of listing in Scotland.

Was it ever closed? Yes. It stood empty from 1998 until its restoration, and reopened in May 2011.

Where is it? On The Square, in the centre of Greenlaw, in the Scottish Borders.

Greenlaw is a good stop for anyone exploring the Borders by car or bike, and the Town Hall is the obvious place to begin a short walk around the centre of the town. Its classical lines look especially fine in low afternoon light, and the surrounding square offers a pleasant place to pause. Visitors interested in architecture will appreciate how confidently a small county town expressed its status in the early nineteenth century, while those interested in social history can reflect on how one building has been a courthouse, a military billet, a swimming baths and, once again, a community venue.