The Girvan Steeple is a steeple and the site of a former townhouse in Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Its popular name, "Stumpy Tower", "Stumpy Jail" or "Auld Stumpy", is derived from the GaelicOlladh Stiom Paidh, meaning "Great Circle of Justice".[1] (The name of Knockcushan Street, upon which the tower sits, means "Hill [or Knoll] of Justice".) It is a Category B listed building.[2]
An earlier tower was erected on the corner of Knockcushan Street and Dalrymple Street in 1787.[3] However, by the mid-1820s it was very dilapidated and on 14 January 1825, it was agreed by a meeting of the burgesses to "rebuild the two houses on the Town's property adjoining the King's Arms and erect, another house on the front leading to the shore, and also a Gaol and Steeple adjoining the present market house to complete the square".[4]
The construction of the new townhouse and steeple, as well as the three new houses, was undertaken by local builders, Denham, Davidson and McWhinnie, at a cost £1,633 and was completed in 1827.[5][6] The design involved a two-storey townhouse and adjacent four-stage steeple facing onto Knockcushan Street. The steeple was steeply battered and incorporated bands between the stages; it was surmounted by a smaller clock stage, an octagonalbelfy, a spire and a weather vane. Internally, the principal rooms in the townhouse were the prison on the ground floor and a meeting room for the burgh council on the first floor.[3] The bell for the belfry was cast by Stephen Miller & Co of Glasgow[7] and the clock was presented by Sir John Hamilton-Dalrymple, 5th Baronet.[5] The building was a prominent landmark, the tower being 29 metres (95 ft) tall.[3]
The prison was inspected 1835 by the prisons inspector who reported that "a marked improvement in the peace of the town is said to have followed the building of this prison".[3]
In 1908, the townhouse demolished to make way for the McMaster Hall, of which construction began in 1909 and took two years to complete, before it opened on 17 August 1911.[7] The McMaster Hall was a gift to the town from John McMaster, a local banker who came from Kirkoswald but who was residing in Canterbury.[8] The McMaster Hall was primarily a town hall, accommodating burgh council meetings and also serving as a dance hall. In 1939 the McMaster Hall was destroyed by fire, leaving only the tower still standing.[3][9]
The burgh council was subsequently based at 17 Dalrymple Street[10] (now occupied by a Bank of Scotland Branch).[11]
^ abLawson, Roderick (1892). Places of Interest about Girvan with Some Glimpses of Carrick History. J. and R. Parlane. p. 19.
^Tolbooths and Town-houses Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. 1996. p. 97. ISBN978-0114957995.
^ ab"Bell in Girvan's landmark tower revealed as dating back to 1826 after clue from the Caribbean". Daily Record. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
^"Legacy lives on, as Girvan fund comes to light". The Daily Record. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
^McDowall, John Kevan (1947). "Carrick Gallovidian: A Historical Survey of the Ancient Lordship of Galloway, with Original Translations of the Place-names and Genealogical Charts and Notes Pertaining Principally to Its Ancient Division of Carrick". H. McCririck. p. 104.
girvan, steeple, steeple, site, former, townhouse, girvan, south, ayrshire, scotland, popular, name, stumpy, tower, stumpy, jail, auld, stumpy, derived, from, gaelic, olladh, stiom, paidh, meaning, great, circle, justice, name, knockcushan, street, upon, which. The Girvan Steeple is a steeple and the site of a former townhouse in Girvan South Ayrshire Scotland Its popular name Stumpy Tower Stumpy Jail or Auld Stumpy is derived from the Gaelic Olladh Stiom Paidh meaning Great Circle of Justice 1 The name of Knockcushan Street upon which the tower sits means Hill or Knoll of Justice It is a Category B listed building 2 Stumpy JailGirvan SteepleLocationKnockcushan Street GirvanCoordinates55 14 36 N 4 51 22 W 55 2432 N 4 8560 W 55 2432 4 8560Built1778Architectural style s Neoclassical styleListed Building Category BOfficial nameKnockcushan Street Town Hall TowerDesignated8 May 1980Reference no LB32148Shown in South AyrshireHistory editAn earlier tower was erected on the corner of Knockcushan Street and Dalrymple Street in 1787 3 However by the mid 1820s it was very dilapidated and on 14 January 1825 it was agreed by a meeting of the burgesses to rebuild the two houses on the Town s property adjoining the King s Arms and erect another house on the front leading to the shore and also a Gaol and Steeple adjoining the present market house to complete the square 4 The construction of the new townhouse and steeple as well as the three new houses was undertaken by local builders Denham Davidson and McWhinnie at a cost 1 633 and was completed in 1827 5 6 The design involved a two storey townhouse and adjacent four stage steeple facing onto Knockcushan Street The steeple was steeply battered and incorporated bands between the stages it was surmounted by a smaller clock stage an octagonal belfy a spire and a weather vane Internally the principal rooms in the townhouse were the prison on the ground floor and a meeting room for the burgh council on the first floor 3 The bell for the belfry was cast by Stephen Miller amp Co of Glasgow 7 and the clock was presented by Sir John Hamilton Dalrymple 5th Baronet 5 The building was a prominent landmark the tower being 29 metres 95 ft tall 3 The prison was inspected 1835 by the prisons inspector who reported that a marked improvement in the peace of the town is said to have followed the building of this prison 3 In 1908 the townhouse demolished to make way for the McMaster Hall of which construction began in 1909 and took two years to complete before it opened on 17 August 1911 7 The McMaster Hall was a gift to the town from John McMaster a local banker who came from Kirkoswald but who was residing in Canterbury 8 The McMaster Hall was primarily a town hall accommodating burgh council meetings and also serving as a dance hall In 1939 the McMaster Hall was destroyed by fire leaving only the tower still standing 3 9 The burgh council was subsequently based at 17 Dalrymple Street 10 now occupied by a Bank of Scotland Branch 11 See also editList of listed buildings in Girvan South AyrshireReferences edit Stumpy Tower Girvan Visit Ayrshire Guide Archived from the original on 12 June 2009 Historic Environment Scotland Knockcushan Street Town Hall Tower Category B Listed Building LB32148 Retrieved 25 April 2021 a b c d e Historic Environment Scotland Girvan Knockcushan Street Girvan Steeple 112415 Canmore Retrieved 25 April 2021 Girvan Burgh Council Minutes 14 January 1825 a b Lawson Roderick 1892 Places of Interest about Girvan with Some Glimpses of Carrick History J and R Parlane p 19 Tolbooths and Town houses Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833 Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland 1996 p 97 ISBN 978 0114957995 a b Bell in Girvan s landmark tower revealed as dating back to 1826 after clue from the Caribbean Daily Record 21 April 2017 Retrieved 25 April 2021 Legacy lives on as Girvan fund comes to light The Daily Record 24 December 2010 Retrieved 2 January 2022 McDowall John Kevan 1947 Carrick Gallovidian A Historical Survey of the Ancient Lordship of Galloway with Original Translations of the Place names and Genealogical Charts and Notes Pertaining Principally to Its Ancient Division of Carrick H McCririck p 104 No 18684 The Edinburgh Gazette 12 July 1968 p 596 Historic Environment Scotland Bank Of Scotland 17 Dalrymple Street Girvan LB32122 Retrieved 2 January 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Girvan Steeple amp oldid 1171409248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
