Selected Works: The Tolbooth, West Wemyss
Our conservation of the Tolbooth in West Wemyss is now featured in Selected Works, accompanied by Fredrik Frendin’s photography.
The early eighteenth-century Tolbooth, with its projecting clock tower, is a rare example of Scotland’s civic architecture. This B-listed building has long anchored Main Street, reflecting the village’s history as a burgh of barony and centre of trade and ceremony. By the late twentieth century, cement repairs had trapped moisture and accelerated decay. Working with the Wemyss 1952 Trust and specialist craftspeople, GRAS led a first phase of conservation to reverse the damage. Earlier harling and pointing were removed, stone indented or replaced, and joints repointed. The façade was re-harled in breathable lime render, reinstating a weathering skin suited to its coastal setting.
Further work included renewal of the copper roof panels, a new traditionally made oak entrance door, the repair of cobbles and masonry at the pend, and a painted galvanised handrail. Every intervention was informed by close survey, balancing repair with sensitive replacement. By securing the external fabric, this phase prepares for the interior’s future adaptation. The Tolbooth once again carries its civic presence in the village streetscape, a living record of continuity and care.
Project Team
GRAS: Dr Stewart Stirling, Gavin McNab, Charlie Porter
Main Contractor: G Brown Stonemason Ltd.
Also: Blake’s Roofing, Crown Traditional Craftsmen, Andrew Turner Blacksmith and Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation