[1] Following significant population growth, largely associated with the new cotton mills established by Sir William Douglas, the local laird, John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway, whose seat was at Galloway House, decided to commission a town hall for the area.

The site he chose was on the corner of Victoria Street and Riverside Road, backing onto the River Cree.

The main block of three bays, on the left, featured three round-headed openings, formed by pilasters supporting imposts and arches with raised keystones; there were three Venetian windows on the first floor.

[3] There was a staircase in the tower: a lock-up for incarcerating petty criminals was installed below the foot of the staircase, and a clock, designed and manufactured by William Frederick Evans of the Soho Clock Factory in Birmingham, was installed at the top of the tower.

[7] An extensive programme of repairs was instigated after the building was damaged by flooding when the River Cree broke its banks in December 2015.