Angus Council

Town and County Hall, Forfar

This handsome building situated in the very heart of Forfar was erected in 1787 - 1788. It replaced the dilapidated medieval tolbooth. The old market cross once stood in front of the Town House, until it was removed in 1785 to Castle Hill as an obstacle to traffic. The life of the town revolved round the market cross. Here, the death of monarchs was announced and their successors proclaimed, Acts of the Town Council were read out, and offenders received their punishment. The last public hanging at the Cross was in 1827.

By 1780 the tolbooth was in a deplorable condition and the Town Council began to purchase surrounding property to allow a finer and more spacious building to be constructed. The new building was to accommodate both Town and County in a hall, rooms for a Sheriff Court, and offices for the Sheriff and Town Clerk. A prison for criminals and debtors was to be housed on the ground floor.

James Playfair, architect

This was a major undertaking for the Town Council and subscriptions from the local landed gentry were sought. Subscribers raised £846 17/- and the town of Forfar contributed 400 guineas.

Designs from several architects including ‘Mr Adam’ were considered but on 14 December 1785 a contract was entered into with James Playfair, architect in London. The cost was £1,100. His father had been minister of Liff & Benvie parish. James Playfair was to become the father of the famous architect, William Henry Playfair, architect of much of Edinburgh’s New Town. James Playfair also designed the Barony Church in Kirriemuir, Farnell Church and remodelled parts of Kinnaird Castle.

The stone for Forfar Town House came from Craignathro Quarries, as did the stone for the Steeple and Parish Church. Work was completed early in 1788. The building had an elegant cupola on the roof but this proved unsafe and was removed in 1804. In this same year a clock was placed in the pediment. The belfry and weather vane above the clock were removed in 1879 due to fears about their safety.

The parish minister condemned the extravagance, citing that while the one large upper room for council business and social occasions was well appointed, prisoners were left to languish in dark, damp, dismal cells below.

The Art Collection

Forfar Market Cross

There was a great deal of tension between the Town Council and the County Council over who actually owned the hall, who determined what paintings hung there and over rules and regulations. It became a political hot potato and led an incensed Lord Panmure to set fire to a Romney painting of Henry Dundas, Secretary of State.

The vandalised Romney had to be replaced at Lord Panmure’s expense and was executed by Sir Henry Raeburn R.A. The other unharmed Romney, still in situ, is that of David Scott of Dunninald. Dundas and Scott had been highly influential in removing the tax on coal landed at places north of Redhead, a measure that was holding back progress in Angus.

On the east wall hangs a magnificent portrait of Adam, Viscount Duncan of Camperdown 1731-1804) by John Hoppner. Admiral Duncan was Commander-in-Chief in the North Sea enforcing a rigid blockade of the European coast. He is famed for his daring victory in the sea battle of Campvere against the Dutch. The other portraits are of the grandson of the Earl of Camperdown, Robert Duncan, chairman of Forfar County Council 1889-1916; James Falconer M.P. 1909-1918; 1922-24; James Anderson, banker and businessman who was a kindly benefactor to Forfar; George Dempster of Dunnichen M.P. an influential agricultural improver and former Provost of Forfar.

From 1801 until 1914 there were ongoing conflicts between the Town Council and the County Council over the use of the Hall and the ownership of the paintings. In 1914 the Court of Session decided that the Romney, the Raeburn and the portrait of George Dempster belonged wholly to the County. The paintings were to remain in the hall as long as the County continued to use it for their meetings, which they do today.

On the staircase hang royal portraits of King George VI and his Angus born wife, Queen Elizabeth by Frank Beresford. They were painted for the magazine Country Life for the Coronation in 1937. Mr. Beresford presented them to the Queen Mother, who in turn, gifted them to Forfar Town Council.

The Stained Glass Windows

The stained glass windows in the meeting room are Forfar’s War Memorial. They are by Russell of the Dundee School of Art and were erected in 1951. The three windows in the hall depict the Burgh coat of arms, St. Michael (patron saint of warriors and of town councillors), and the coat of arms of Angus County Council. The window at the top of the stairs incorporates the coats of arms of the 3 armed services, Army, Navy and Air Force. A glass case contains the Roll of Honour commemorating those who were lost serving their country.

Changes in the Town and County Hall

About 1824 the Sheriff Court moved out to a new building, directly behind it. In 1834 the prison was declared unfit for its purpose and a new prison was built on the south side of Market Muir. This has now become County Buildings and is used by Angus Council as offices.

Town and County Hall has been used for many purposes: it was the Forfar Coffee Room, concerts and social evenings were held in the hall itself; the Phrenological Society met here; Chelsea Pensioners costumes were kept; it was home to a coal society, a newspaper office, wartime fuel office, an architect, a tobacconist and the Library.

This historic building and its very fine Council Chamber is still in use by Angus Council, who hold their meetings under the brilliant crystal chandeliers gifted by David Scott of Dunninald.