Arbuthnot House, formerly known as the Municipal Chambers, is a former municipal building on Broad Street in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The building, which was previously the meeting place of the burgh council, is Category B listed.[1]
| Arbuthnot House | |
|---|---|
 The front of building in 2019 | |
| Location | Broad Street, Peterhead |
| Coordinates | 57°30′17″N 1°46′28″W / 57.5046°N 1.7745°W |
| Built | 1805 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Category B | |
| Official name | Municipal Chambers, Arbuthnot House |
| Designated | 16 April 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB39694 |
  Shown in Aberdeenshire | |
History
edit_(cropped).jpg)
The building was commissioned as a private house by Robert Arbuthnot of Haddo-Rattray in the 18th century. The site he selected was at the east end of Broad Street facing Peterhead Town House at the opposite end.[2] The original house was quite simple in design and half the depth of the present structure.[3] It was acquired by James Arbuthnot of Dens, a prosperous merchant, in 1768.[2]
The house was extensively remodelled in the early 19th century. The works were carried out in ashlar stone to a neoclassical style and completed in 1805. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of five bays facing onto Broad Street. The central bay featured a rusticated doorway with a keystone. The other bays on the ground floor and all bays on the first floor were fenestrated with sash windows. At roof level, there was a small gable containing a round headed attic window above the central bay. At the rear of the building there were bowed corners. Internally, the principal room was a two-storey galleried reception hall with apses at both ends.[1]
The building remained in residential use until Peterhead Burgh Council, which had previously been based at Peterhead Town House, relocated to the building shortly after the Second World War.[4][5] It served as the local seat of government for another two decades until the burgh council was abolished in 1975.[6][7]
The building was subsequently used to accommodate some departments of Banff and Buchan District Council,[8] but, following the creation of the new unitary council, Aberdeenshire Council, in 1996, it became vacant and was boarded up in around 2020. It was subsequently placed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.[9] In January 2024, Aberdeenshire Council revealed plans to restore the building and add an extension on its southern side. The proposals involve the relocation of the library service from its existing premises in St Peter Street,[10] and the creation of a new regional museum.[11][12][13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Municipal Chambers, Arbuthnot House (Category B Listed Building) (LB39694)". Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ a b Beattie, James (1948). James Beattie's Day-book, 1773–1798. Third Spalding Club. p. 154.
James Arbuthnot of Dens…was a prosperous merchant of Peterhead who purchased Arbuthnot House, Peterhead during 1768 from Robert Arbuthnot of Haddo-Rattray
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Peterhead, Broad Street, Arbuthnot House (164520)". Canmore. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "No. 16864". The Edinburgh Gazette. 15 June 1951. p. 307.
- ^ "Arbuthnot House". Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Peterhead Burgh". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "No. 22157". The Edinburgh Gazette. 5 June 1987. p. 848.
- ^ "Arbuthnot House, Broad Street, Peterhead". Buildings at Risk Register. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Peterhead Library". Live Life Abderdeenshire. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "New images show multi-million-pound plans for Aberdeenshire museum and library". Aberdeen Live. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Arbuthnot House Plans and Design". Engage Aberdeenshire. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Initial designs unveiled for new multi-million pound Aberdeenshire museum". Grampian Online. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.