[1] The first municipal building in the town was a tolbooth which was erected on the current site and dated back at least to the first half of the 15th century.

[4] By the 1780s, the old town house had become dilapidated, and the burgh council decided to demolish it and build a new town house, financed by public subscription, on the same site: major contributors included the member of parliament, Sir David Carnegie, 4th Baronet.

[5] It was designed in the Italianate style, built by a local contractor, George Scott, in sandstone at a cost of £629 and was completed in 1790.

Internally, the principal room was the assembly hall which featured a coved ceiling and pilasters designed in the style of William Adam.

[3] The building continued to serve as the headquarters of the borough council for the rest of the 19th century but ceased to be the local seat of government when the municipal offices were established in Bank Street in 1900.