Old Town House, Aberdeen
The Old Town House in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a historic municipal building located on the High Street in Old Aberdeen. Originally built to serve as the meeting place for the burgh council, the structure is now home to the King's Museum and holds Category A listed status due to its architectural and historical significance.
In the early 17th century, the burgh council met in a small room above Saint Machar's Cathedral. As this arrangement became insufficient, a dedicated townhouse was commissioned and constructed in 1642. This initial building served multiple purposes: a school and a weigh-house on the ground floor, while the first floor housed the council chamber. In 1702, the structure was expanded to include prison cells and a clock tower.
By the 1780s, the building had fallen into disrepair, and in 1788 construction began on a new townhouse designed by local architect George Jaffrey. The completed Georgian-style structure featured a symmetrical granite fa莽ade with three bays, a central doorway, and sash windows on each level. The clock tower, crowned by a belfry, incorporated a bell cast in 1754 by John Mowat, a relic from the previous building.
The Old Town House remained the council's meeting place until 1891 when Old Aberdeen was annexed by the City of Aberdeen. Subsequently, the building served various community roles, including as a school and later as a library. In 2001, the University of Aberdeen acquired the building, and following renovations supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the structure was refurbished. The King's Museum moved into the Old Town House in 2013, showcasing a collection of artifacts originally assembled at King's College dating back to 1727.
In the early 17th century, the burgh council met in a small room above Saint Machar's Cathedral. As this arrangement became insufficient, a dedicated townhouse was commissioned and constructed in 1642. This initial building served multiple purposes: a school and a weigh-house on the ground floor, while the first floor housed the council chamber. In 1702, the structure was expanded to include prison cells and a clock tower.
By the 1780s, the building had fallen into disrepair, and in 1788 construction began on a new townhouse designed by local architect George Jaffrey. The completed Georgian-style structure featured a symmetrical granite fa莽ade with three bays, a central doorway, and sash windows on each level. The clock tower, crowned by a belfry, incorporated a bell cast in 1754 by John Mowat, a relic from the previous building.
The Old Town House remained the council's meeting place until 1891 when Old Aberdeen was annexed by the City of Aberdeen. Subsequently, the building served various community roles, including as a school and later as a library. In 2001, the University of Aberdeen acquired the building, and following renovations supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the structure was refurbished. The King's Museum moved into the Old Town House in 2013, showcasing a collection of artifacts originally assembled at King's College dating back to 1727.
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Old Town House on Map
Sight Name: Old Town House
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Aberdeen, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Aberdeen
Creating your own self-guided walk in Aberdeen is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Aberdeen Old Town Tour
Established in 1489 as a separate burgh, Old Aberdeen was an important political, ecclesiastical and cultural center since the late Middle Ages. The locality merged with the rest of Aberdeen only in 1891. Today, the central part of the Old Town is a conservation area, characterized by well-preserved medieval dwellings and many other unique, vernacular structures of the 17th-early 19th centuries,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Aberdeen Introduction Walking Tour
The area where Aberdeen now sits has been inhabited by people for at least 8,000 years. The city that we now know as Aberdeen was first chartered in 1179. It was granted city status in 1891.
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles