Clackmannan Town Hall

Community 05 June 2022 Last Updated: 10 December 2023

Clackmannan Town Hall as it currently looks - November 2021 - OfficialClackmannanshireCouncil - Facebook

Clackmannan Town Hall came about when some of the local dignitaries identified the lack of a public hall in Clackmannan.

The Clackmannan Public Hall Co. Ltd was formed in the mid 19th century. The main shareholders were Lord Zetland, John Thomson Paton, Lord and Lady Balfour of Burleigh as well as a Mr Mitchell. The Town Hall we see today has developed over the intervening period of over 100 years. The building as we see it today has materialised over four periods of building - the first being in 1887/8 and the latest one being in 1993.

1887 - The land was bought from Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

Alloa Architect Adam Frame of T. Frame and Sons were commissioned to design the initial hall. All the builders are believed to have been local men.

1888 - Town Hall is completed.

At this stage the Town Hall consisted of a Main Hall and a Recreation Room: Total cost of £1200.00

1902 - Ebenezer Simposon Architect, was commissioned to design a two-storey frontage to the Town Hall.

1903 - A two storey red sandstone Art Nouveau frontage is completed.

Included within the extension are a Library and Reading Room on the Ground floor. On the First floor there were a Billiards Room and a Recreation Room - Funded initially by John Thomson Paton who also provided an Endowment Fund.

Andrew Carneigie - who at this time in his life was donating to many public buildings, especially those that were developing libraries, provided funding for the new work. He would normally provide the money to build and equip the library of a building on the provisio that the local authority matched his donation by providing the land and the running cost of the library: Total cost of £2000.00

1903 - At this point in time the Town Hall was gifted to the Parish Council of Clackmannan "for the benefit of the townspeople" by Mr John Thomson Paton, after the Clackmannan Public Hall Co Ltd was voluntarily dissolved.

1927 - An extension was added to the western elevation of the Main Hall. Consisted of a Billiard room which contained 3 Billiard tables and accessories.

This extension also included a Retiring Room and Toilets, funded by the Local Miners Welfare Fund: Total Cost £2500.

1993 - A one floor extension was added to the Northern elevation of the Main Hall.

The extension included a new Library facility as well as a Community Access Point. A new disabled access ramp was also added, and the doors were automated to allow easier wheelchair access. This extension was designed by the Architects of Clackmannanshire Council. The extension was also built by Clackmannanshire Council.

J.P. Thomas Adams opened the new facilities.

May 2004 - Clackmannanshire Council announce closure of the facilities.

October 2004 - Clackmannan Town Hall Trust was established to take care of and run the Town Hall. The trust secured a 25-year lease of the building from the council in 2006.

2017 - A group of townspeople came together to start tending to the garden behind the Town Hall, this has become known as the Butterfly Community Garden and is loving tended by local volunteers.

2022 - Work is currently planned to do repairs to the Town Hall roof and walls. This will be funded over two financial years by Clackmannanshire Council. Local councillor Kathleen Martin has said of the plans: - "I was ready to leap up and down when I saw the money to repair Clackmannan Town Hall, because it's such a beautiful building .......... I'm glad to see that we are going to be going forward in making sure that it exists well into the future."

Presently Clackmannan Town Hall plays an important part in its community just as Lord Balfour had hoped in his speech of 1887 at the laying of the Hall's Memorial Stone: - "When opened, it is hoped the hall would be a place where all might meet on common ground for enjoyment, mutual improvement and instruction ........a means of binding the people more closely together"

The halls currently host a wide variety of community groups and classes as well being one of the main function rooms in the town for family and community celebrations with many weddings, birthdays etc being held in the rooms.

There is also a twice weekly Toddlers group which make use of one of the halls.

The volunteers who take care of the Butterfly Community Garden also meet regularly in the Town Hall. This Garden is regularly visited by members of the community as well as the children from the local Nursery.

There are often fundraising events held within the halls ranging from Fayres, Ceildhs, live entertainment and Dances.

There were plans to open a Community Cafe in the most recently built extension, but unfortunately these have had to be put on hold.

Clackmannan Town Hall Butterfly Garden