[3] The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the Earl of Airlie on 2 September 1886[2][4][5] and a bazaar was held in the local school to celebrate the event.

[2][7] The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage facing onto Albert Street; the central bay featured three arched doorways with architraves separated by brackets supporting a canted balcony.

The right-hand section, which was slightly recessed and only single-storey, comprised two bays each with casement windows.

It had been recovered by the former purser of HMS Horatio and carefully preserved by his family, who lived locally, for much of the 19th century.

[4] Works of art in the town hall include three landscape paintings by the painter, John Geddes.