[1] The first judicial building in the town was a medieval tolbooth in The Cross which was primarily used to the detention of prisoners and which dated back at least to the 16th century.

[1] The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie on 5 August 1869.

Smaller panels above the ground floor windows recalled the towns over which the courthouse had jurisdiction viz.

A rectangular wing to accommodate the local police force was erected to the northeast of the main structure.

[1] A plaque was placed on the front of the courthouse to commemorate the march past of elements of Polish I Corps, in front of King George VI, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and General Władysław Sikorski, on 7 March 1941.