Dunfermline City Chambers is a very distinctive building with its tower easily visible on the city skyline. It was designed by James Campbell Walker who also designed the Carnegie Library.
It was opened in 1879 and it is in a French Gothic Baronial style. It was constructed on the site of an older Town House of 1771 which was in its turn built to replace the 17th century Town House, demolished as part of 18th century improvements to make way for Bridge Street.
It was designed to be the centre of local government in the city. Today this impressive building still houses the Council Chambers and Dunfermline’s Registrar Office.
It has many interesting features including a four face clock tower, and sculptured busts of people associated with the city including Malcom III, Queen Margaret and Robert the Bruce.
The inside of the City Chambers also has many interesting features, for example the oak hammer beam roof which provides the ceiling for the Council Chamber itself. The old police cells (no longer in use!) have also been preserved.
The building contains a number of notable artworks including busts of several Scottish sovereigns, a statue of Robert Burns, Sir Joseph Noel Paton’s painting, Spirit of Religion, and an early twentieth century portrait of King Malcolm and Queen Margaret.
We’ve reached the end of our trail, we hope you have enjoyed exploring Dunfermline’s Culture and Heritage.
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