[3][a] The old courthouse was then converted for municipal use as a town hall, to a design by John Johnstone,[6] but it was badly damaged in a fire on 29 November 1908.

[4] Losses in the fire included fine portraits of King William and Queen Mary painted by Godfrey Kneller which had been presented to the town by the former local member of parliament, John Johnstone.

[4] However, a silver gun which had been presented by King James VI of Scotland to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Dumfries in 1598 survived the fire.

[8] The new building was designed by James Carruthers of Glasgow in the Edwardian Baroque style, built in red ashlar stone extracted from a quarry at Locharbriggs and was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester on 20 September 1932.

[10] However, it ceased to be the local seat of government when Dumfries and Galloway Council became the new unitary authority for the area, with its offices at County Buildings in English Street, in 1996.