Architects Sketch from 1845
The original building dates from 1845/6 and replaced the Tollbooth which stood at the foot of the High Street and dated from from the early 1600s. The building was designed by the architect John Henderson, (1804-1862) and is in the revived gothic style which was carried on to the extension built in the early 1900s.
The original Council Chamber on the first floor is a beautiful historic room. Prior to local government reform in 1973 this was where Burntisland Town Council met.
In the early part of the 1900s a property next to the town hall was acquired and an extension built. This provided council chambers on the upper floor and a new post office for the town on the ground floor. the extension was opened in 1905 and retained the gothic revival style.
Below the Council Chambers were the Town Clerks office and retail premises, these are now occupied by Burntisland Heritage Trust.
The 1905 extension houses a Magistrates Court, Provosts room, toilets and cloak rooms. On the ground floor the post office moved out in the 1960s. It was used up until recently as a Local Office for Fife Council but is currently empty.
Behind the old local office and attached to it , is a derelict two storey building that was once the cells where miscreants were housed, prior to the building of cells at the old police station at the corner of East Leven Street/ Links Place. The upper part of this building housed the Burgh Officer.
Between the original 1840s building and the 1905 extension is a magnificent tower, this was originally crowned with a steeple which housed the town clock. this tower also gives access to the upper chambers.
The capped steeple
The Toon Clock
Burntisland has a long association with town clocks. Council records from the early 17th century document payments to a 'Clock Winder', relating to the clock in the old tollbooth which was built in 1620 and demolished in 1843. The most recent clock, which chimed the hours, quarters and half hours, was dismantled in 2013 when the steeple, being considered unsafe, was removed.
This clock was installed by Ritchie of Edinburgh in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The chimes were struck using 5 bells of varying size. These bells were cast by Ritchie who was also responsible for the clock mechanism. Interestingly it was Ritchie who dismantled the clock and have it in their workshop awaiting repair.
