AN ICONIC piece of Clackmannan heritage is set to receive a much-needed facelift in a bid to preserve the unique and significant structure.
Plans have been lodged at Clackmannanshire Council to carry out a package of fabric repairs at the Tolbooth on the Main Street.
If approved, traditional external lime finishes could be reinstated at the structure, initially erected in 1592 with the belfry tower, visible today, built around 1680.
Following a December 2022 inspection, it has been recommended that “urgent and necessary” fabric repairs are carried out to preserve the unique structure “of outstanding interest”.
According to a submission by the Scottish Lime Centre Trust (SLCT), there are no surviving tollbooths of medieval date in Scotland and only a very few from the last quarter of the 16th century.
Another inspection report attached to the planning application read: “Civic buildings, like the tower, from the 17th century, are very rare survivors in Scotland.
“This makes the belfry tower a historically important artefact and an architecturally significant structure.
“However, the inspection has identified that the tower has been subjected to neglect and a series of inappropriate repairs over many years.
ICONIC: The Tolbooth is set to be preserved
“These repairs are not suitable for this type of simple sandstone construction and a category A listed building.
“The likely cause of pieces of masonry and cement mortar falling to the ground during a recent storm is because the original lime mortar in the joints of the sandstone have been over pointed using a hard cement render.
“The only way to prevent the potential for further falls like this is to remove all cement pointing from the building and replace with a more suitable and traditional lime rich mortar.”
The inspection has also identified that there is a risk that the clock face on the west elevation could fall to the ground in high winds as it has lost several cast iron fixing pins and is dislodged.
Adjacent to the Tolbooth is the Clackmannan Market Cross, probably dating fro the 17th century and there is also the famous Stone of Mannan with a famous story concerning Robert the Bruce's lost glove – or mannan.
The inspection report continued: “This group of structures is of national importance because of the very early origins of each part as well as the fact that they are significant to the history and evolution of the town and Clackmannanshire.”
The SLCT said it is today accepted that historic buildings should be repaired with materials on a like for like basis.
Before any external finishes can be applied, existing cement mortar work requires to be carefully removed, the masonry should be “flushed out” with lime mortar and small pinning stones.
Clackmannan Development Trust “strongly supports the application” as it will “help preserve this important structure”.
The plans are available under 23/00066/LIST.
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