[3][4] It was designed by James Anderson of Huntly in the Scottish baronial style, built in granite from the Syllavethy Quarry at a cost of £3,000 and was officially opened by Sheriff of Forfarshire, John Comrie Thomson, in 1875.

The fourth stage was augmented by bartizans at the corners and surmounted by a truncated pyramid-shaped roof.

[2] Internally, the principal room was a large assembly hall intended for concerts and theatrical performances.

[8] The building was completed gutted in a fire in 1886[9][10] and was rebuilt in a similar style to a design by the firm of Matthews & Mackenzie in 1887.

[2] Following the death of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 8th Duke of Richmond, all the property and feus in the town along with much surrounding farmland was sold at auction in the building in August 1936 in order to pay death duties on the ducal estates.